The Operations, Management, and Information Division provides administrative and operational services including financial and acquisitions, information technology, human resources, facilities management, and safety and environmental compliance in support of the Center’s staff and research mission. 

Budget and Administration 

The Budget and Administration Branch is responsible for a variety of duties related to the center budget, including cost analysis, formulation of annual spending plans, and account monitoring and reporting, in accordance with federal regulations, procedures, and methods. Division personnel work closely with NOAA headquarters to ensure ever-changing policies and procedures are implemented and conveyed accurately to scientists at the local level.

From an administration perspective, we are responsible for property management and accounts payable, coordinating inter-agency agreements between federal and non-federal agencies, managing center payroll distribution, and coordinating travel (both foreign and domestic). Additionally, division personnel are responsible for aggregating necessary documentation, including scientific needs, market research, and funding requirements for contracts, grants and procurements. 

Facilities and Operations

The Facilities and Operations Branch provides oversight of the physical property and mechanical operations of the facilities. The scope of engagement includes coordination and oversight of facility modifications or upgrades, repair of build systems, operation of building mechanics, grounds maintenance, pest control, environmental safety and regulatory compliance. We are responsible for the operation of the buildings and grounds.

Information Technology 

The Information Technology Branch creates and maintains the nerve center of communications and information. The scope of work involves the procurement, installation, and maintenance of network servers, switches, cabling systems, telephone systems, software development, server administration, IT security and help desk support. We supply and maintain the nerve system of all the information transacted in the pursuit of our research. 

In addition, the Southeast Fisheries Science Center relies heavily on the timeliness and accuracy of information. Data represents a valued asset for the organization and the confidentiality, integrity, availability, non-repudiation and authentication of data must be preserved. The responsibility of managing the laboratory’s data assets resides with us. This responsibility encompasses the analysis, identification, collection, quality control, quality assurance, storage and dissemination of information throughout its lifecycle; a lifecycle that crosses different applications, databases and storage media.