Release Notes for EPS 6.0 December 2013

An updated version of ePermitting is now active. This update (6.0) includes:

 

Inspection and Closeout Functionality

There are several components included as part of Inspection and Closeout:

A new role has been created in EPS for Inspectors. Both PennDOT and consultant Inspectors are able to request the Inspector role. Users with the EPS Inspector role can Create a Reimbursable Record, Attach an M-371A Form, and Ready a Reimbursable for Authorization.

A new menu has been included for issued permits which allows a Permittee to notify PennDOT that the permitted work is about to start, or that the permitted work has been completed. Notifying PennDOT when permitted work is about to start generates an email to any assigned Inspectors, the County Reviewers, the District Responders, and the Applicant Team. Notifying PennDOT when permitted work has been completed populates the Notification of Work Complete date, and generates an email to any assigned Inspectors, the County Reviewers, the District Responders, and the Applicant Team.

New system alerts and email notifications will now be generated to inform applicants/permittees who do not have an ECMS BPID, CIMS Customer Account, and/or CIMS Billing Account, that they will be required to obtain one (at the time they are issued a permit that may require continuous inspection - has condition code 318).

A new work queue screen has been added to group permits that have been issued, but are in various stages of the inspection & closeout process. Authorized users are able to access and manage the listed permits from this work queue screen. An Under Inspection section list permits for which an Inspector has been assigned. An Awaiting Inspection section lists permits that require continuous inspection, and for which the Permittee has notified PennDOT that work is ready to begin, but for which an Inspector has not yet been assigned.

A new screen has been included to allow an authorized user to manage Inspectors, manage reimbursable records, and close out a permit. The Inspectors section is used to assign/remove an Inspector to/from the permit, or to edit assigned Inspector information. The Reimbursements section is used to capture inspection cost information (and attach associated M-371A forms) and to manage the status of the reimbursable record for the inspection invoicing purposes. The Closeout Information section is used to close out a permit, and add any close out comments. There is also a Closeout Checklist that can be used to reference to determine whether the Permit can be closed without issue.

The PDF file for a closed permit will include a watermark that states "Closed". Also, the verbiage used in the Acknowledgement of Completion section of the closed permit will match that used when closing out the permit.

 

Inspection Invoicing Functionality

There are several components included as part of Inspection Invoicing:

A new work queue screen has been added to group permits that have been issued, but are in various stages of the inspection & closeout process. Authorized users are able to access and manage the listed permits from this work queue screen. A Draft section lists those permits for which a reimbursable record (for inspection costs) has been created, but not yet submitted for authorization. A Ready for Authorization section lists permits for which a reimbursable record has been submitted for review/authorization. A Ready for Invoicing section lists permits for which a reimbursable record has been authorized, and is awaiting the invoicing batch process to complete (twice-per-month).

A new batch process has been developed for invoicing inspection costs separately from permit fees. On a twice-per-month basis (1st business day and 1st business day after the 15th calendar day), this process will generate and email a PDF copy of an invoice to the email address of the primary billing account contact for any reimbursable records (inspection costs) created since the previous batch process ran.

Note: an Applicant/Permittee will be required to have an ECMS BPID, a CIMS Customer Account, and a CIMS Billing Account to take advantage of the new inspection cost invoicing process.

 

 

Security Information Functionality

There are several components included as part of Security Information:

A new Permit Security Information section has been added to the Permit Information screen. This section is available only after a Response has been built for the permit. Authorized PennDOT users will be able to add, edit, or delete Permit Security Information associated with the permit, including Security Type(s), Security Number(s), Financial Institution(s), Security Expiration Date(s), and Security Value(s).

The Permit Information Screen now also includes a section for Security Attachments. This section lists all attachments with an Attachment Type of Security Attachment that were added by either the Permittee or PennDOT. You are able to open and view the attachments from this section, but cannot add or remove them here. Security Attachments must still be added/removed in the Attachments Screen.

 

Other Functionality Improvements

EPS users may see other differences in EPS with Release 6.0. Following is a list of additional improvements: