Specifications include, but are not limited to: Currently, RAR uses a UMN internally-built system that is more than 20 years old and was developed as an add-on to an inventory management system that was already utilized at the university. While this system allows RAR to accomplish the needed work, there are many manual workarounds in place to track the life cycle of an animal including procurement (e.g.. approved vendor, imports, exports) requests, confirmation of protocol allowances, incoming animal notifications, health issue notification, health report documentation, animal health records, census tracking, space assignments/availability, protocol specific animal requests/needs, billing, service reconciliation, USDA reporting, and per diem/rate development. The system’s current users are members of the RAR business office team, while RAR Animal Care Supervisors and research department financial approvers perform order approvals through an integrated web app.
