Project Approval Process

Agencies must get approval before initiating any IT project that costs more than $100,000 or is enterprise-wide, as mandated in Executive Order 2004-8. The approval process occurs as following:

• Agency CIOs/IT managers complete the IT project proposal template in Clarity.
• OA-Information Technology reviews the project proposals and notifies agencies of whether projects are approved.
• The IT governance board makes final recommendations on the projects and agencies are notified of approvals.

View the fiscal year 2012-13 timeline to find important dates for the current project planning cycle.

Architectural Review

To initiate a project that requires an exception from a current standard, the agency must submit a request through the Community of Practice Procurement and Architectural Review (COPPAR) at www.coppar.state.pa.us. Agency CIO approval is required. Contact your community of practice planner for more information or assistance. COPPAR replaces the former Technical Architecture Review (TAR) process.

• View the Enterprise IT Standards Quick Reference Guide
• View the full list of ITBs

Out-of-Cycle Project Submissions

Occasionally, extenuating circumstances may necessitate an out-of-cycle project submission. OA-Information Technology will review out-of-cycle submissions for projects that meet one or more of these conditions:

• The project was previously submitted but placed on hold, pending more research, during the annual CoP project planning and approval process.
• The project is an agency secretary priority. 
• The project is a Governor’s Office priority.
• The project is mandated by the federal or state legislature.
• New funding opportunities arise. For example, new grants or other types of funding become available, or existing projects are completed early or discontinued, making additional resources available.

Questions regarding out-of-cycle submissions should be addressed through your community of practice planner. 

Find More Information

• View CoP information, find CoP planners and service coordinators
• Download the Clarity Project Submission Manual