In preparation for the implementation of OAKS, the DAS/Office of Fixed Asset Management has begun assisting agencies with converting asset records from their in-house inventory systems to the state's Fixed Asset Management System (FAMS).

In 2002, the OAKS Business Needs Analysis identified 29 agency-specific fixed asset management systems. The aggressive timeline for implementing OAKS will make it impossible to perform individual conversions for each agency by the time the OAKS fixed asset module goes live. Therefore, agencies with standalone fixed asset management systems are encouraged to make arrangements within the next 12 months to initiate the conversion process to FAMS. During the OAKS integration phase, the OAKS project staff, along with DAS/Office of Fixed Asset Management, will be responsible for converting FAMS records to OAKS. This will enable all agencies tracking their assets in FAMS to take full advantage of the OAKS benefits as soon as the fixed asset functionality of OAKS goes live.

Until OAKS goes live, agencies that convert to FAMS will have complete access to their data via the Fixed Asset Search and Transfer (FAST) web application. FAST provides agencies the ability to query their asset data online or download data files for their own use. As part of the FAMS support package, agencies have access to IT and business functional staff support, training materials and classroom instruction.

Agencies that have recently converted their asset data to FAMS include the Department of Commerce and the State Library. Within the past month, the Ohio Veterans Home has initiated the conversion process to FAMS. Due to the size and complexity of the Department of Job & Family Services, their conversion to FAMS will be done in multiple phases. Recently, their fixed assets have been converted to FAMS, and ODJFS is now moving into the next phase of their conversion. In addition, discussions are being held with several other agencies concerning the possibility of converting to FAMS.

For more information about FAMS and the FAST web application, please visit http://www.das.ohio.gov/gsd/Fams/fams.htm or contact William D. Dempsey, State Inventory Program/FAMS Manager at (614) 644-5559.