Federal Enterprise Architecture Framework

The Federal Enterprise Architecture Framework (FEAF) was established in 1999 by the Chief Information Officers (CIO) in response to the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996.  The purpose of the FEAF is to facilitate shared development of common processes and information among Federal Agencies and other government agencies.

Based on the FEAF, a given architecture can be partitioned into business, data, applications, and technology architectures:

• Business architecture: What is done, by whom, how, when and why.
• Data architecture: Information used by the Agency to do business.
• Application architecture: Computer applications/software that process the data according to defined business rules.
• Technology Architecture: Computer/communications technology / hardware that supports above three layers.

CMS' EA, along with DHHS operating divisions, is modeled and maintained in an interactive architectural tool called Troux Architect.  CMS' EA framework is in alignment with DHHS' EA framework that also aligns with the Office of Management and Budget's FEAF.  This federated model approach to EA maximally leverages utility and interoperability across the federal government.

For more information on FEA Assessment Framework, refer to the link on the "Related Links Outside CMS" section below.  Select the download PDF file for EA Assessment Framework Version 3.0 after click on the link.