US embassy cable - 05STATE107000

UNCLAS STATE 107000 
 
 
FOR IMO - PLEASE ENSURE WIDE DISSEMINATION AT POSTS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AADP, AMGT, AINF, PREL, ECON, CMGT, ACOA, KPAO, OIIP 
SUBJECT: NET-CENTRIC DIPLOMACY DEPLOYS TO 50 MORE POSTS 
 
REFS: A) State 99654 
 
 
SUMMARY 
 
1. During the remainder of the 2005 calendar year, up to 50 
more posts will be provided assistance to add content to 
their classified homepages on SIPRNet through the Net- 
Centric Diplomacy program. Assistance to selected posts 
will include a scanner, software, training, and temporary 
staff augmentation needed to perform the data-capture task. 
End Summary. 
 
 
BACKGROUND 
 
2. In 2003, the Department launched a program to encourage 
and enable bureaus and posts to create and maintain 
homepages on SIPRNet, a classified USG network for the 
national security and foreign affairs community. Over the 
past year, the Department has also participated in a DOD- 
funded program aimed at finding ways to break down 
information stovepipes and to improve classified 
information sharing among government agencies. The 
Department's Net-Centric Diplomacy initiative has developed 
software to help posts capture biographic files and easily 
upload cables for publication on their classified 
homepages. This information is stored in a server that can 
be accessed by the classified homepage application 
(PortalX) and by other systems through a service oriented 
architecture. The system was piloted at 30 posts and a 
fully operational version is now being developed to be 
deployed eventually as an integral part of the embassy 
classified homepage program. 
 
Relationship between NCD and the Classified Homepage 
Program 
 
3. The classified homepage program is the means for posts 
and bureaus to publish web pages on classified USG 
networks; it also prescribes basic information and 
functionality expected of all websites, including contacts, 
biographic information, reports and analyses, post-specific 
information and links to other resources.   Classified 
homepages provide a gateway to resources on SIPRNet - and a 
gateway from SIPRNet into post and bureau perspectives and 
information. 
 
4. Net-Centric Diplomacy (NCD) compliments the classified 
homepage rollout by making it easier for posts to publish 
two important kinds of content -- biographic information 
and cable reporting -- within existing Embassy homepages. 
The NCD program will also facilitate the transition to new 
web technologies and standards used in the interagency 
community on SIPRNet. 
 
5. IRM/Business Center Rollout Team and NCD staffs, though 
separate, meet regularly to coordinate their efforts. More 
details on NCD and the Classified Homepage program-are 
available in a common set of frequently asked questions 
posted on their respective web sites 
(www.state.sgov.gov/rm/irpcip and 
www.state.sgov.gov/portalxcop). 
 
6. Posts participating in the pilot included WHA: Ottawa, 
Guatemala City, Quito, Bogota, La Paz, Caracas, Santo 
Domingo, Buenos Aires, Asuncion, Brasilia, Lima, and Mexico 
City; EUR: Stockholm, Brussels, Warsaw, Berlin, Madrid, 
London and Bucharest; EAP: Manila, Jakarta, Suva, Seoul, 
Beijing, and Tokyo; NEA: Algiers, Tunis, Rabat, Kuwait 
City, Abu Dhabi, Cairo and Tel Aviv. Collectively these 
posts have electronically published on SIPRNet more than 
3053 biographies, and thousands of cables using the NCD 
solution. Additional information is available at 
www.state.sgov.gov/rm/irpcip 
 
The Program's Next Steps 
 
7. Over the next several months, the Department will be 
able to provide hardware, software, training, and temporary 
staff augmentation, to as many as 50 more posts to enhance 
content on their classified homepages. 
 
8. The Department is developing the operational version of 
the software and systems and will provide the hardware and 
training support for the effort. The NCD activities are 
fully funded by Washington. (Note: Classified homepages 
entail a $500 annual web-hosting fee, which is waived in 
the first year). Creative Information Technology 
Incorporated (CITI), of Arlington VA, will administer the 
program this year, including hiring and training a cleared 
dependent at post to spend up to 500 hours digitizing and 
uploading hard-copy content. 
 
9. In order to be considered for participation, posts must 
have: 
 
- An active classified homepage on the SIPRNet. 
- Hard-copy biographic content appropriate for publishing 
to the homepage; 
- A workstation in the CAA that could be used for the data 
capture project; and 
- U.S. citizen candidates available at post that could be 
hired for the data-capture task. 
 
10. Posts wishing to express their interest in 
participating in the program can email Ramki Uppuluri at 
Ruppuluri@citi-us.com or Alex Yates at 
YatesAE@state.sgov.gov on the classified system. NCD 
personnel will be contacting posts directly to make 
 
arrangements for providing appropriate support and to 
answer questions. Questions regarding the homepage program 
in general or use of the PortalX web application (which is 
used to create homepages) should be referred to Max Salomon 
at salomonmx@state.gov. 
 
11. Minimize considered. 
RICE