Technical Bulletin #1 ACF Electronic Data Transmission REVISED: March, 2000 1

The purpose of this technical bulletin is to provide information on the Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) electronic data transfer (EDT) methods, types, and characteristics.

1. Background
   
   As of October 1, 1997, operation, maintenance, and support services for AFCARS were relocated to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Computer center in Bethesda, Maryland. The NIH is the new CONNECT:Direct (formerly Network Data Mover - NDM) HUB and KERMIT site for AFCARS electronic data file transfer for the States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Effective September 30, 1997 the ACF National Computer center in Baltimore, Maryland, closed due to mandatory Federal computer consolidation.

2. General Information
   
   CONNECT:Direct
   
   States that will use CONNECT:Direct for their electronic data file transfer are to submit a CONNECT:Direct registration request to ACF. This request should contain the following information: VTAM application id, VTAM network id, and CONNECT:Direct node id. States are provided with the information necessary to set up their connection and transmit their AFCARS data file to NIH. The Federal AFCARS will transmit report files to the State via CONNECT:Direct. The purpose of this is to ensure that the communications link is established and tested and that data/report file transmission to/from ACF can be successfully completed.
   
   KERMIT
   
   States that will use KERMIT for their electronic file transfer are to submit a KERMIT registration request to ACF stating their need to use KERMIT. ACF will provide the software to the State to install at the PC. The PC should have an internal modem or be connected to an external modem. The software has a customized TAK file that the State will need to make certain changes to, such as inserting the filename of the data file being transmitted.
   
   The State will execute the KERMIT software that makes the connection to the NIH computer center and upload the data file, as well as download the report files.

3. Electronic Data Transfer Methods and Characteristics
   
   The following table lists the electronic data transmission characteristics of both CONNECT:Direct and KERMIT electronic data transfer methods that can be used when transmitting AFCARS data files to the NIH computer center. ACF strongly encourages all States to upgrade their C:D software to a HUB to electronically transmit their AFCARS data files direct to the NIH computer center.

If additional information is needed, contact the ACF Office of Information Services at

(202) 401-1462.

¹Initial issuance date June 30, 1994 as Technical Bulletin #4.