The DMDC
test environment is a shared test environment among many DMDC customers,
as well as all TRICARE Program support contractors. Not only is
the environment shared, so is the data within that environment.
This environment is used for both contractor testing and training.
1.1 Releases
1.1.1 Typically,
as fixes are applied and tested, the modified software will be installed
for contractors’ testing. DMDC will coordinate with the Defense
Health Agency (DHA) and the contractors when the test environment
will be upgraded with software for the next major release (as opposed
to continuing software modifications for the current release). The
following information provides the general schedule for moving applications
into and through the contractors’ test environment and finally into
Production.
1.1.1.1 DMDC will notify DHA one week
prior to moving an application that requires contractor testing
to the contractors’ test environment; and DMDC will also provide
a copy of the release notes for DHA review and coordination of the
date the application will be moved to contractor test. DHA will notify
contractors of the application release date and provide a copy of
the release notes during regularly scheduled Integration meetings
hosted by DHA.
1.1.1.2 Applications that require contractor
testing, including those that only require regression testing, will
remain in contractor test for a minimum of two weeks prior to moving
into Production. A longer testing period may be required based on
the complexity of the changes and/or testing requirements.
1.1.1.3 A major release, which requires
only regression testing, would remain in contractor test for one
month.
1.1.1.4 A major release which requires
testing for functional changes would remain in contractor test for
a minimum of six weeks or longer, as coordinated with the contractors,
based upon the complexity of the changes and/or testing requirements.
1.1.1.5 Generally, new versions of
applications will not be moved into contractor test during the two
weeks prior to an application or release moving into Production.
1.1.1.6 DHA will coordinate the movement
of a new version of an application from contractor test to Production
with contractors during regularly scheduled Integration meetings
hosted by DHA. The determination to move an application from contractor
test will be made based on each contractor’s readiness, test results
and controlling Program requirements.
1.1.2 There will be a baseline set
of test data supplied by DMDC to the contractors to establish a synchronized
set of test data. DMDC will coordinate changes with contractors
to the baseline set of Department of Defense (DoD) Identification
Numbers, DoD Benefits Numbers (DBN), and Social Security Numbers
(SSNs). The test environment is populated with new test data periodically.
Refreshes may be performed approximately every three weeks; the
specific schedule will be established by DHA and DMDC and coordinated
with the contractors. Any deviation from the published schedule
requires agreement from DHA, DMDC, and contractors.
1.1.3 Data refreshes may also be
required on an ‘as needed’ basis to return the data to the baseline.
To ensure contractors’ data remains in sync with Defense Enrollment
Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), contractors are required to
return to the baseline concurrent with DEERS. The data refresh schedule
will be determined by DHA and DMDC, and coordinated with contractors
as appropriate. Requests for modification of the refresh schedule
must be submitted through the Contracting Officer (CO) and/or the
Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) to the DHA Performance,
Analysis, Transition, and Integration Section (PAT&IS) or equivalent
office for review and consideration. DHA PAT&IS will coordinate
the request with DMDC and contractors as appropriate. Contractors
will be notified by a DHA representative of the outcome of the review
at the Integration meeting. The contractor shall submit systems
integration test plans in accordance with Section
J of the contract.
1.1.4 Notifications for new releases
of software or applications will be sent to the contractors as required.
Emergency fixes are evaluated and, depending on the scope and severity
may be released by DEERS to Production prior to the contractors’
test region. Notification of such an emergency release will be sent
via e-mail. Upon notification of software changes made available
for testing, contractors are required to test and validate the specific
software modification and verify via regression testing that all other
functionality has not been negatively affected.