Notice: applying this to your agency.
The IT Project Resources are not meant to replace your agency’s internal project management practices or prescribe how you must operate. Instead, they offer concepts and tools that can strengthen delivery by providing a scalable framework for project level coordination. All project documentation should be maintained throughout each stage in alignment with agency policies and, where applicable, WaTech requirements and oversight expectations.
For Programs
Establish a comprehensive funding strategy that outlines the program’s financial framework and supports execution across all Stages and sub-projects. The strategy must include the full technology budget, identifying funding sources (e.g., federal, state, proviso, agency contributions), and document fiscal planning assumptions. It should also incorporate any legislative proviso language that governs spending, timing, or reporting obligations.
For Programs with Agency‑Led Sub‑Projects
The funding strategy must clearly define how sub-projects are financially structured, including: Sub-project budgets tied to approved funding and specific agency responsibilities, including cost-sharing agreements or memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and funding source breakdowns by agency and stage. Baseline tracking for each sub-project to support enterprise-level reporting.
The strategy must align with WaTech’s Technology Budget Planning requirements, including submission through the IT Investment Intake Portal, and support financial transparency for oversight bodies such as OFM, TSB, and legislative committees. It should also be referenced in the Program Management Plan and updated as part of lifecycle reviews.
Fiscal constraints across agencies, such as budget freezes, delayed procurements, and staffing shortages, require earlier and more proactive financial risk management. This is a key time to identify funding risks at the start of planning, including likely budget limits, procurement challenges, and resource gaps. Early visibility supports mitigation strategies like phased delivery, contingency planning, and alternative sourcing.
For Projects
Translate the approved budget into a detailed financial plan that supports cost tracking, forecasting, and oversight reporting:
- Break down costs by category (labor, software, hardware, services)
- Identify funding sources and timing constraints
- Validate fiscal assumptions and allocations
- Align with procurement and staffing plans
- Secure sponsor approval
- Continuous report on plan spend
WaTech available template: Cost Management Plan