Publications Redesign
Reference Number: NFC-23-1684850341
Published Date: May 23, 2023
Effective: Pay Period 12, 2023
Summary
On June 5, 2023, the National Finance Center (NFC) will launch a new System Documentation library. The new library provides easy access to system-specific pages that contain all of NFC’s technical documentation including Web and print-based procedure manuals, system bulletins, release notes, quick reference cards, and more for each system.
By organizing all of NFC’s available resources into system-specific pages, NFC hopes to provide a one-stop-shop for everything related to a particular system. In addition to technical documentation and quick references for a specific system, users will also see a list of any training that may be offered for that system through NFC University.
To facilitate historical research, NFC will continue to offer the existing publications library (prior to June 5, 2023) on the NFC Web site in an archived format. However, new documentation from June 5, 2023, and beyond will only be accessible through NFC’s new System Documentation library.
Additionally, NFC will be updating the bulletin format to provide publication and effective dates, as well as a new numbering schema.
Implementation
To access the new System Documentation Library, select the Publications tab from the center ribbon on the NFC Web site as shown below. Select the NFC System Documentation menu item under Publications Library. To access archived content (released prior to June 5, 2023) select the applicable historical category and navigate to the desired content.
Note: Utilizing the search feature will return results from both the archive and current libraries.
Figure 1: Publications Redesign
System Documentation Library
The entry point for the NFC System Documentation library will provide an alphabetical listing of system acronyms as this is the most common reference for end users. On the landing page NFC will also provide a ‘Popular’ section that showcases the most searched for content up front and center. Simply select the system you are researching from the list. Below is a sample of the landing page.
Figure 2: System Documentation Library Landing Page
Selecting a system link in this list will take users to a comprehensive system page. This page has been designed to contain all the documentation and resources associated with that system including bulletins, procedure manuals, quick reference cards, processing tips, release notes, and if a system has associated training that is available, a direct link to training in NFC University will be provided. Below is an example of a system page.
Figure 3: EPP System Page
Bulletins
NFC is also modifying the current bulletin format. To ensure that all communications from NFC follow the same format and method, NFC is retiring the category numbering schema of current category, year, number format and implementing the reference number format that is currently used on customer notifications.
To help keep our publication’s content transparent, NFC’s bulletins will continue to identify which systems are being affected. This means that even when viewing the EmpowHR bulletins, users may see additional system tags if the changes affect other NFC systems.
Enhanced Search
To make finding information even easier, the search feature has been moved to the top of the screen and NFC is also indexing content each day and working with our search partner to ensure the latest publications are available even faster than before.
NFC is proud to continue to deliver customer-focused initiatives that assist you with meeting your Agency’s mission. We hope you find these upgrades beneficial.
Inquiries
Questions related to the redesign of NFC’s Publication Library should be sent to nfc.pubs@usda.gov.
For questions about NFC processing, authorized Servicing Personnel Office representatives should contact the NFC Contact Center at 1-855-NFC-4GOV (1-855-632-4468) or via the customer service portal at ServiceNow Portal for Federated Users and at ServiceNow Portal for Non-Federated Users.