This document provides a series of common questions about Global Reference Architecture, the service-oriented reference architecture for justice and public safety information sharing.
This four-page frequently-asked-questions document defines what Global Reference Architecture (GRA) means and what its objectives are; how it relates to service-oriented architecture (SOA) and other Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative (Global) or federal initiatives such as National Information Exchange Model (NIEM), Global Federated Identity and Privilege Management (GFIPM), N-DEx, Global privacy, and fusion centers; who provides oversight for the GRA and what their management approach is. The document provides information on the enterprise architecture approach; how the GRA can benefit different regions, states, counties, or cities; where practitioners have implemented the GRA; what the first step in adopting an SOA framework such as the GRA might be; where to learn more or receive technical assistance; and what some available trainings are. The document states that the GRA is required by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in grant special conditions, and explains what that means. The document finally lays out guidance on determining what tools or infrastructure grantees should buy or what vendors to use; what kind of assistance the GRA will provide in writing a request for proposal (RFP); information about the GRA’s developers; plans for future GRA development, activities, and deliverables; and how to contribute lessons learned about SOA initiatives.