ACTION PLAN FOR AFGHANISTAN

UNCLAS STATE 052919 FOR D/AMB RICCIARDONE AND CKO LIVELY, BANGKOK FOR RIMC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMGT AADP KRIM AF SUBJECT: ACTION PLAN FOR AFGHANISTAN REF: KABUL 1090 ¶1. We've heard you, we're engaged and taking action. As CIO Swart discussed with AmEmbassy Kabul leadership last week, we understand the challenges and high level impact of Mission Afghanistan. Going forward, we will continue to work closely with you, doing everything possible to provide both winning knowledge management and better information integration among our diplomatic, development and defense initiatives in Afghanistan. In response to reftel we have undertaken the following: IMPROVED INFORMATION SHARING AND COLLABORATION ¶2. A proposed four-person joint IRM and RM/IRP team will visit Embassy Kabul on 1-5 June and will provide Embassy staff and the country team hands-on training on several technologies, most of which are currently accessible to a majority of USG personnel in Afghanistan. These collaboration tools include the Communities@State blogs, Diplopedia, Intellipedia, Net-Centric Diplomacy, SharePoint, uGov mail, and a common user authentication tool known as Intelink Passport. The team will also host a series of focus groups on knowledge management issues, including existing PRT business processes and identify mechanisms to improve the overall availability and retention of PRT reporting data currently managed thru commercial internet services. ¶3. The Department understands Kabul's requirement for in- country interagency collaboration. We recognize that latency and performance issues make using the central SharePoint environment unsatisfactory for Kabul's requirement. To address this issue, we are looking at a local installation of SharePoint with Groove integration (in Kabul),managed by IRM's SharePoint team. ¶4. Although we recognize there are latency issues for Mission Afghanistan, there is a resource that is already available to manage data across agencies -- "IPOG" -- the Iraq Policy Operation Group. IPOG is an NSC mandated Secretariat that maintains interagency strategic planning and implementation matrices and other databases. IPOG has proven effective in providing the communication tools to make sure the interagency is kept fully informed; these tools include robust and active SharePoint sites on both OpenNet and on ClassNet. IPOG can support the U.S. Mission in Afghanistan and Washington backstop offices by providing program assistance, information technology, and administrative support of interagency meetings. These services are available now in support of U.S. Mission Afghanistan and Washington offices via a modification of the existing contract. The services provided now could be expanded for additional support. IT INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNICATIONS ¶5. Globecomm Systems, Inc. (GSI) engineers will travel to Kabul June 10-14. The team will assess the current status and connectivity of Embassy Kabul's GSI VSAT satellite terminal. As well as determine connectivity needed to support the civilian increase and projected multiple building construction/expansions. The team will also survey connectivity (current and planned) for embassy trailers/residences to include Internet solutions for MoraleNet, maintenance, help desk, and on-site technical support. Proposals and cost estimates for connectivity upgrades are to be determined based on the survey results. ¶6. The team will also determine the requirements for PRT sites, including satellite service requirements and potential solutions for OpenNet connectivity. ¶7. Support requirements for the two new proposed mission locations(Herat and Mazar) after the initial MIPC 6-month deployment will also be discussed, including satellite bandwidth requirements for OpenNet, ClassNet, voice, and VTC. ¶8. A RIMC representative will travel to post to assist with the development and completion of a scope of work to address the physical infrastructure expansion. Our objective is a scope of work that allows the development of an accurate bill of materials, labor estimates, and addresses not only the immediate needs, but positions the post for the numerous expansions scheduled over the next 12 months. ¶9. To better coordinate efforts please address your requirements to D/CIO and CKO, Janice Fedak, who will collect, coordinate, and track all activities. We look forward to working with Mission Afghanistan as we refine our plans to move forward based on the results of the above trips. CLINTON