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Beta Testers Needed for New DL Tools software

Publication Date: April 17, 2001

Author: General Manager: SFA Student Channel

Summary: Beta Testers Needed for New DL Tools software

Posted on April 17, 2001

TO: All Direct Loan Participants

FROM: U.S. Department of Education

RE: Beta Testers Needed for New DL Tools software

The U.S. Department of Education is recruiting Direct Loan participants for the beta test of the upcoming Direct Loan (DL) Tools for Windows, Version 1.0. DL Tools has been developed to provide the following functionality related to the Direct Loan software:

1) Rebuild loan and disbursement data in EDExpress in an automated fashion;

2) Compare the 732 report to actual disbursements recorded in EDExpress or an external file, and compare to DL Tools Cash Database;

3) Track cash receipts (drawdowns) and returns of excess cash for Direct Loan as reported in GAPS.

The application is being developed to process data for multiple cycles. Version 1.0 will contain Rebuild and Cash Management functionality for the 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 cycles, and Compare functionality for the 2001-2002 cycle.

The Compare and Cash Management functionality can be utilized by any Direct Loan School, including schools using custom or combination systems to process Direct Loans and EDExpress-only users. The Rebuild process is designed to be utilized to recreate origination and disbursement records in the EDExpress Direct Loan Module.

Beta test participants will download the software from an FTP site along with detailed test procedures. Participants are then asked to replicate their typical use of the software in a mock-productional environment, report any problems encountered, and submit a summary report detailing their testing experience for ED analysis.

DL Tools Version 1.0 beta testing is scheduled to take place April 30 through May 11, 2001.

If you are interested in being considered as a beta test site for the DL Tools Version 1.0 beta test, please send an email to CPSWAN@NCS.COM to the attention of "DL Tools Beta Testing" and provide the following information:

1) School name and address

2) School type (4-year public university, 2-year private college, proprietary/trade school, etc.)

3) Primary and Secondary testing contact names, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses

4) TG# identifier

5) Windows operating system version(s) and PC environment (network/standalone)

6) Network type and version, if applicable

7) Number of years participating in Direct Loan program and participation level

8) Direct Loan features/tools you currently use in EDExpress (please provide specific details, such as External Add, MPN print, etc.)

9) Do you use EDExpress alone or in combination with mainframe or a 3rd party software for Direct Loan processing?

10) Printer type and version, and if printer is standalone or networked

11) FTP download capability (I.E. Can you upload/download files from an FTP server?)

12) Your school’s average number of Title IV applicants per year

The Department and CPS/WAN Technical Support will select participants with a wide variety of processing environments to ensure the most diverse and thorough testing of the software is performed.

We will call or e-mail all interested schools by April 25, 2001. If your school is selected, further information will be provided at that time.

We thank you for your interest in helping make DL Tools a superior software product. We look forward to hearing from you.