[comp.lang.ada] Solicitation of IPSE Experts

karl@grebyn.com (Karl A. Nyberg) (05/08/90)

Date: Mon, 7 May 90 13:11:03 EDT
>From: colket@NADC.NADC.NAVY.MIL (W. Colket)
Subject: Solicitation of IPSE Experts

          Portable Common Interface Set (PCIS) Programme Memorandum

                     (CAIS-A / PCTE+ Convergence Effort)


TO:  THE ADA ENVIRONMENT COMMUNITY

SUBJECT:  PCIS EXPERT TEAM 

FROM:  THE ADA JOINT PROGRAM OFFICE (AJPO)

1.  PURPOSE:  The Ada Joint Program Office is seeking Integrated Project 
Support Environment (IPSE) experts who will represent the United States on an 
international team to support the Definition Phase of the PCIS Programme. This 
memorandum describes candidate qualifications, selection criteria, 
reimbursement options, terms and conditions of participation, and application 
instructions. 

2.  OVERVIEW OF PCIS PROGRAMME:  The Portable Common Interface Set (PCIS) will 
be a single interface standard based on the Portable Common Tool Environment 
(PCTE+) and the Common Ada Programming Support Environment (APSE) Interface 
Set (CAIS-A). The PCIS Programme is designed to define, assess and introduce 
into use the PCIS. The programme anticipates a final PCIS specification 
available by mid-1994 and PCIS-based environments by the late 1990s. The PCIS 
specification will ultimately be offered to ISO for standardization. The PCIS 
Definition Phase will produce the PCIS Abstract Specification, an Ada Binding, 
a C Binding, PCIS Reader's Guide, and migration guides. This phase will be 
managed under the auspices of the Special Working Group (SWG) on APSE. SWG on 
APSE Participants include Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the 
Netherlands, Norway, Spain, United Kingdom, the United States, and NACISA. 

3.  PCIS EXPERT TASKS:  Experts will be required for the PCIS Expert Team and 
as Expert Reviewers. This announcement is seeking PCIS Experts and PCIS 
Reviewers for the United States contribution to the SWG on APSE effort. 

A.  PCIS EXPERT TEAM TASK:  The PCIS Expert Team will participate in all 
aspects of the CAIS-A/PCTE+ Convergence process to produce the PCIS Abstract 
Specification, the PCIS Rationale, an Ada Language Binding, a C Language 
Binding, a PCIS Reader's Guide, and migration guides. The PCIS Expert Team 
will consist of experts contributed by Participants of the Special Working 
Group (SWG) on APSE. 

B.  PCIS EXPERT REVIEWER TASK: Prior to each of the two Public Reviews, the 
PCIS Expert Reviewer will be called on to review the PCIS Abstract 
Specification, PCIS Rationale, Ada Language Binding, C Language Binding, PCIS 
Reader's Guide, and migration guides, as appropriate. The PCIS Expert 
Reviewers will consist of experts contributed by Participants of the Special 
Working Group (SWG) on APSE. 

4.  PROFILE OF PCIS EXPERT/REVIEWER:  The following describes the 
qualifications, experience, and personal attributes of PCIS Expert/Reviewer:

A.  GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS:  An expert should understand the evolution of 
Integrated Project Support Environments (IPSEs) to meet both DoD needs and 
those of the commercial sector. The essential core of the work is in 
identifying the features required for a PCIS based upon CAIS-A and PCTE+. It 
is therefore imperative that team members should have a thorough understanding 
of Public Tool Interfaces (PTIs), CAIS-A, PCTE+ (or PCTE), the reasoning 
behind the Waltham and Winnersh Reports and the requirements for the 
functionality (and usability) of a PTI. Personnel with a total understanding 
of Ada and C are required; at least one team member is required for each 
language so that the bindings can be produced. The language experts should 
also have a strong knowledge of PTI fundamentals. 

B.  WORK EXPERIENCE:  A PCIS Expert should have work experience using Ada and 
PTI/CAIS-A/PCTE+ Tool-to-Framework Interface experience. Interface experience 
can be from the perspective of an interface designer, an interface 
implementor, a tool builder, or an IPSE user. Strengths in the following areas 
should be identified:

     o  Data Model
     o  Typing and Views
     o  Pathnames
     o  Entity Monitoring
     o  Processes
     o  Transactions
     o  Execution Monitoring
     o  Access Control
     o  Distribution
     o  Resource Models
     o  Input-Output
     o  User Interface
     o  Common External Form
     o  Accounting
     o  Security/Integrity

Experience in research and evaluation of alternative environment functionality 
is desirable [e.g., KIT/KITIA]. Experience in formal methods may be desirable. 

C.  PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:  A member of the PCIS Expert Team must be capable of 
being an effective team member for a team separated geographically by great 
distances. The team member must be adept in using electronic mail. The expert 
team member must be capable of formulating technical opinions and 
conceptualizing unifying solutions. The expert team member must be able to 
work under the pressure of deadlines. The expert team member must be capable 
of presenting technical material at public reviews of the PCIS specification. 

5.  AVAILABILITY:  

A.  PCIS EXPERT:  Experts are expected to work on a near-full-time basis 
(approximately 6 to 12 man-months per year) between 1 January 1991 and 
approximately mid-1994. Meetings of the entire PCIS Expert Team will occur 
approximately once a quarter in the U.S., Canada, or Europe. Additional travel 
will be necessary to attend meetings called by the PCIS Programme Manager and 
Expert Team Leader and to attend professional conferences in the U.S. or 
Europe at various locations. After 30 September 1993 the Experts may be 
required to support activities on a part-time basis (approximately 6 man-
months per year) leading to the ISO standardization of the PCIS Specification. 
The AJPO will provide experts with access to electronic mail service for 
interaction with other PCIS Experts.

B.  PCIS REVIEWERS:  Expert reviewers are expected to work on a part-time 
basis (approximately 1 man-month per year) between 1 January 1991 and 
approximately mid-1994. Little travel is expected, although there may be a 
requirement to participate in an organizational meeting in the U.S., Canada, 
or Europe.

6.  SELECTION CRITERIA:  The PCIS Expert Team will be selected by 
representatives of the SWG on APSE. Approximately 15 experts will be selected. 
The U.S. contribution could include up to 6 PCIS Experts and up to 10 PCIS 
Reviewers. U.S. citizenship or affiliation with a U.S. company is required. 
Selection will be based on:

    o  Quality and appropriateness of general qualifications,

    o  Quality and appropriateness of specific work experience,
    
    o  Recognized expertise in the international community,
    
    o  Complementary knowledge and skills to other members of the team,

    o  Capability to work effectively with a widely dispersed Expert Team,

    o  Availability as evidenced by the employing organization's support for 
       the candidate's participation and the candidate's willingness and 
       ability to travel.

The ideal team would contain members who:

    -  Get along with each other
    -  Equally represent CAIS-A/PCTE+
    -  Are amenable to new thinking as well as old
    -  Fully represent the PTI and IPSE implementor, tool builder and user 
       community
    -  Represent a DoD and commercial view
    -  Have the confidence of the nations involved

7.  COST CONSIDERATIONS - Options are:
    
    1)  Company contract/subcontract,
    2)  Consultant agreement,
    3)  Person/employing organization provides services at no cost to the 
       AJPO.

8.  TERMS AND CONDITIONS:  A PCIS Expert will be required to sign a non-
disclosure agreement. An expert may not disclose any information concerning 
the PCIS Definition to their company prior to the public release of 
information. An expert must understand that selection will be based upon 
expertise he/she possesses and not upon company affiliation; therefore, the 
expert will address issues from a broad technical base rather than what is 
'good' or 'best' for his/her company. In turn, companies are assured that they 
may still bid on other PCIS Programme contracts even though a member of their 
company is a PCIS Expert. 

9.  HOW TO APPLY:  Individuals interested in becoming a PCIS Expert or a PCIS 
Expert Reviewer should submit a resume and a two-to-four page position 
statement to:

     Currie Colket
     Code 7031
     Naval Air Development Center
     Warminster, PA 18974-5000
     (215) 441-2149
     colket@nadc.arpa

The position statement should be a succinct description of the major issues 
that the individual believes should be addressed by the expert team during the 
PCIS convergence of CAIS-A and PCTE+. Intent to submit application must be 
received by 25 May 1990. Applications must be received by 6 June 1990. 
Qualified applicants will be sent a more complete statement of work and 
reimbursement options.