This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing theresources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject andinvestigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source,and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed isfor the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator.To provide all necessary services and assistance to support the Center's infrastructure and independently funded research projects of WNPRC principal investigators.Operational Services Division (J. Kemnitz, Interim)To provide all necessary services and assistance to support the Center's infrastructure and independently funded research projects of WNPRC principal investigators.Operational Services is the WNPRC's business office and serves as the central point for the following administrative functions: Human Resources, Payroll and Benefits, Grants Management, Financial Management (including Purchasing) Services, Facilities Management and Shop Services,. All personnel in Operational Services appreciate and promote a customer service approach in carrying out the day-to-day administrative functions. In addition, Operational Services staff work to assure compliance with all administrative and regulatory requirements of the university, State of Wisconsin and federal cognizant agencies. Currently the position of Associate Director for Operational is vacant as we recruit to fill the opening due to Steve Knable's departure in September of 2007.Over the last 12 months, Operational Services has accomplished the following:Human Resources (S. Baculik)During FY2007-2008 the Human Resources Office, which includes Payroll & Benefits, continued to manage the personnel process and coordinated the Center's human resource-related activities, as well as the appointment, payroll, and benefit processes for the Center. We continued to focus on equity and diversity issues by continuing to be a member of the Graduate School Equity & Diversity Committee, developing a model for a mentoring program, expanding our joint collaboration with the Madison Area Technical College, Center On Wisconsin Strategy, and the Workforce Development Board to enhance the animal caretaker certification program by pre-screening students, presenting to the class regarding applying for positions at WNPRC, as well as other animal care positions on campus, expanding the program to include incumbent animal caretakers on campus, as well as requiring the training for all new hires. This collaboration provides a diverse applicant pool with animal care skills. We also continue to lead the university in regard to our bilingual training efforts, and continue to work closely with the Cultural Linguistics Department to enhance our bilingual training program, provide supervisors with translation assistance as well as training on cultural differences. WNPRC's animal research technician program has been recognized by the university's Classified Human Resources Office as a 'Best Practice' on campus due to our diversity initiatives, turnover reduction, allocation pattern for promotion and career ladder progression, as well as our strategies for working with ESL staff.The institution rolled out a web-based effort reporting system and the Payroll & Benefits Coordinator became the Effort Coordinator for WNPRC. On-site training for PIs and academic staff was completed in November 2007. The new web-based system will improve the tools for certifying effort and managing the effort certification process. Payroll and Benefits continued the outstanding service to staff keeping them up to date on State of Wisconsin announcements, changes and resources regarding payroll, holidays, reimbursement plans for daycare and medical expenses, retirement benefits and planning, health, dental and life insurance, income continuation, long-term care, and myriad of other benefits.Grants Management (K. Nagle, K. Faren)Grants Management continues to assist PIs with grants resources and assistance, including assistance and education for new electronic proposal systems such as Grants.gov and the University-purchased system-to-system solution, Cayuse424. We are expanding tracking and oversight to reduce delays and problems in post-award management. Grants Management is currently developing a one-stop web resource for PIs with questions, answers, and links for all stages of the proposal and grant managements processes. Financial Services: Purchasing & Accounting (B. Gay-Seehawer)July 1, 2007 began a new fiscal year for the university. A series of business process changes took effect with the overall goal of eliminating the UW-Madison's legacy accounting system built in 1970 and replacing it with processes running in the UW System's Shared Financial System (SFS). Employees learned the system's different terminology, forms, and are changing mechanisms that were used for many years. We continue to communicate these procedural changes to WNPRC staff. Our purchasing associates completed the university purchasing department's delegated agent training. Delegation is a formal agreement between the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Purchasing Services and a University Department that authorizes the delegated agent in that department to process and approve departmental purchases up to a designated amount of $25K.This will improve the ability to further support the Center's infrastructure.January 17, 2008 we introduced the Center's new web based purchase order request system. This was a result of collaboration between the financial and information technology staff.This system improved the ease for end users to complete an order request form, and to maintain a list of commonly ordered items, pricing, and vendor information. The purchasing staff reviews the form for completeness and further processes the order using the best mechanism (credit card, prime vendor contract, purchase order) for obtaining the product or service. We have increased the monthly transaction limit on the purchasing cards (credit cards), which allows for more orders to be processed via this mechanism. End users obtain their products faster, vendors are promptly paid, and internally we audit and retain procurement documentation.Our web based purchase system allows interface with the university's new Accounts payable/purchase order (APPO) process. This is a major enhancement, which eliminates duplicate requisition entry effort.July 2007 the WNPCR accounting office began importing our monthly internal accounts receivable charges directly to the university's journal entry tool (JET) system. Rather than being dependent on the UW accounting office for manual key entry of charges, the JET allows for immediate posting to accounts in SFS.The accounting and IT staff continued to enhance the WNPRC web financial system features. The assay and pathology service units now directly enter their charges in this system. All service units are able to retrieve their charge data and produce reports. The system allows the accountant to produce summary reports by category and accounts.The accounting department eliminated charge-backs to PI accounts for purchased supplies and services. Rather than all purchases being made via the Center's income account, PI's now have their grants directly charged. This improved timeliness of postings and provided a more accurate balance of account. The exception to this process is our surgical supply inventory. It was determine we obtain a better price point in ordering a large quantity and then charging units as they use the supplies.Facilities (B. Pape)Facilities and Shop Services is a new unit of the Operational Services Division that was created in 2007 to centralize the responsibilities of the former Construction & Facilities and Instrument Maker Shop under one entity. The unit which is currently staffed by three individuals, is responsible for monitoring the function of the major operational services (HVAC, electrical, plumbing) , interacting with the UW Physical Plant to oversee major system and structure repairs to center equipment and facilities, designing and fabricating specialized research and animal care equipment, and participating in planning for future renovation and construction of the WNPRC facilities. Merging the facilities and instrument maker shop has streamlined the organizational structure and clarified the process for facility maintenance and planning decisions. Kirk Boehm, Assistant Director for Facilities Management has been reassigned to the NHP vivarium project within the Interdisciplinary Research Complex (IRC). In his new responsibilities as the Construction Manager for the IRC, Mr. Boehm will continue to work closely with WNPRC to coordinate final design of the vivarium. 1.) Construction is well underway on the Interdisciplinary Research Complex in which we will have space for approximately 350 macaques. Our project there has been funded by a C06 grant from NCRR. Occupancy is scheduled for September 2008.2.) A new cooling tower and associated equipment has been installed along with an overhaul and assessment of the aging chiller located in 1220 Capitol Court. An Eddy Currant test was conducted on the chiller transfer tubes resulting in positive results. UW Physical plant continues to monitor and fund necessary maintenance of this unit.3.) The failing hot water heater and storage tank that supplies 1220 Capitol Court was removed and replaced with a new unit. Extensive care and planning was required to remove the existing asbestos covered storage tank so it could be cut into sections and removed while supplying the building with hot water from a temporary hot water heater. Project funding was requested and covered by the UW Physical Plant.4.) A new six station 1000psi 24gpm high pressure washer was installed in the sub basement of 1220 Capitol Court. The new system replaces a failing 3 station 700 psi system. This will allow more flexibility in the scheduling of NHP cage cleaning. Capitol Equipment Purchase $18750.005.) With funding provided by the Graduate School and Research Animal Resources Center (RARC), the Facilities and Shop Services Unit and the UW Physical Plant are performing a stepwise refurbishment of the animal holding rooms of Building 1 and the older rooms of Building 2. This refurbishment project involves the following components:+ Removal, repairs and renovation of all stationary cages. Mesh end and back panels are fabricated and installed at this time providing better cleaning abilities and more light.+ Resurfacing of the ceilings with durable, industrial grade paint or fiberglass reinforced plastic panels.+ Replacement of cracked floor and wall tiles, regrouting of all areas.+ Repair and reseal epoxy floors.+ Replace fluorescent light fixtures with new water tight units.The progress of this renovation initiative is being monitored by the Graduate School IACUC and the USDA VMO and has resulted in positive feedback from both of these regulatory bodies. A detailed plan for repairing the ceilings, walls, and floors of the remaining animal holding rooms with structural issues is in place and ample funding for the process has been obtained from the Graduate School and RARC.6.) Worked closely with research team and testing apparatus manufacturer to make repairs and modifications to a monkey Movement Analysis Panel (mMAP). Aging Research (Supporting Dr. Richard Weindruch)Publications note: Operational Services support is involved in numerous journal articles that depend in part or in full on WNPRC resources.Note: AIDS related
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