| Publication Date: May 5, 2006 Author: G. Kay Jacks, General Manager, FSA Application, School Eligibility and Delivery Services Summary: HERA Operational Implementation Guidance (CPS, COD System, EDExpress Suite)--Updated CPS 2006-2007 Specifications for Software Developers Available on IFAP and FSAdownload Web Sites Posted on 05-05-2006 Due to the implementation of certain provisions of the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 (the HERA), Pub. L. 109-171, at the Central Processing System (CPS) for the 2006-2007 Award Year, we are providing an updated version of the 2006-2007 Specifications for Software Developers package on the U.S. Department of Education's Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) Web site, located at http://ifap.ed.gov. The specifications will also be posted to the Department's FSAdownload Web site, located at http://fsadownload.ed.gov, within a few days. There are two significant changes to the specifications. The following changes (described in Dear Colleague Letter GEN-06-05) have been made to the model determination edits: - Deleted dependent student tax return requirements from the dependent model edits 3001 to 3006; - Automatic Zero EFC parameter updated from $16,000 to $20,000 in the dependent model edits 3004 to 3006 and independent model edits 3010 to 3015. Please note that we will soon be issuing further guidance and information regarding the implementation of these need analysis modifications in the CPS, including details about how and when we will reprocess applicant records to accommodate the changes. After these changes are implemented, updated test files (including application records and matching ISIRs) will be posted to the FSAdownload Web site to allow you to test your system. Test files should be available by May 19, 2006. If you have questions related to the specifications package, please call Dan Staples, ORC Macro International, at 301/572-0272, or e-mail him at Daniel.A.Staples@orcmacro.com. If you need assistance connecting to the FSAdownload site or downloading the specifications package, contact CPS/SAIG Technical Support at 800/330-5947 (TDD/TTY 800/511-5806) or by e-mail at CPSSAIG@ed.gov. If you have technical questions about our systems and software, you may want to subscribe to our e-mail listserv, FSATECH. For more information about FSATECH, including how to subscribe, visit the Federal Student Aid Technical Support Web site at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/services/fsatechsubscribe.html. Attachments/Enclosures: |