Environmental Quality Technology - Operational System Dev

The Environmental Quality Technology - Operational System Development program, as outlined in Program Element (PE) 0205412A, is a research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) initiative managed by the Army. The primary objective of this program is to modernize and enhance the Department of Defense's (DoD) enterprise-level environmental, safety, and occupational health (ESOH) information management capabilities. The program specifically supports the Environmental Information Technology Management (EITM) effort, which is responsible for providing and sustaining requirement-driven data management, reporting, and outreach tools to meet DoD and Congressional mandates.

EE6: Environmental Information Tech Modernization is the main project line under this program element. Its central goal is to support and upgrade the Defense Environment, Safety & Occupational Health Network Information Exchange (DENIX) defense business system and its associated Knowledge Based Corporate Reporting System (KBCRS). The DENIX platform serves as the DoD's authoritative ESOH system of record and reporting tool, facilitating compliance with federal and DoD-specific environmental and safety regulations.

Objectives for the upcoming fiscal year include continuing the modernization of DENIX and initiating the transition of KBCRS to a modern software language, addressing cybersecurity risks posed by its legacy code base. The program's justification is rooted in the need to ensure that DoD's ESOH data management and reporting systems remain secure, efficient, and compliant with evolving technology standards.

Enhancements funded by this line item include the implementation of Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) capabilities, cloud computing integration, and cybersecurity upgrades. These improvements are essential for maintaining the integrity and reliability of ESOH data, supporting both internal DoD stakeholders and external reporting requirements.

The acquisition strategy for the EITM program is overseen by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Environment, Safety & Occupational Health, who serves as the Executive Agent. The strategy emphasizes close coordination with DoD ESOH stakeholders and authoritative IT organizations to ensure that system enhancements align with operational needs and policy-driven requirements. The program has focused on optimizing DENIX's architecture by creating a Level 2 container separate from the existing Level 4 container, thereby improving cybersecurity and system performance for users.

From a technical perspective, the program has pursued a phased approach to modernization. Earlier phases included prototyping split architecture, improving user experience through containerization, developing web conferencing capabilities, and applying machine learning algorithms to enhance data quality. These efforts have laid the groundwork for ongoing and future enhancements, such as the migration of legacy applications to modern, secure platforms and the integration of advanced data analytics.

The associated Operations and Maintenance, Army (OMA) line provides daily operational support for DENIX and related applications, ensuring continuity of service as modernization efforts are implemented.