The National Weather Service (NWS) is defining an overall requirements framework including a process for technology infusion into NWS systems. Three candidate processes which could be adapted for NWS system requirements will be evaluated during FY01. After approval, one of these processes will be adopted agency wide, and used for all of the NWS technology requirements, including AWIPS.

A formal process for defining, documenting, and prioritizing requirements for the AWIPS workstation applications, data availability and display capabilities, product generation capabilities, and systems enhancements was implemented for Build 5 during FY99.

Requirements for Build 5 were solicited from the NWS field and headquarters offices through a web-based user interface. Additional requirements incorporated into the Build 5 planning were specific development tasks recommended by an independent assessment of the NWS AWIPS Build process. Requirements to support specific goals of the service programs were also incorporated. Prioritization of these requirements was then conducted by the NWS Integrated Operations and Services Committee (IOSC) Working Group. A subset of the highest priority requirement tasks were assigned to the AWIPS development organizations.

An additional recommendation from the independent assessment was that a more comprehensive requirements process be established for follow on AWIPS Builds. Lessons learned from the AWIPS Build 5 requirements process will be incorporated into the planning and establishment of a follow on AWIPS Build, once the framework for the NWS requirements process has been defined. This paper will describe the plans for the follow on AWIPS Build requirements definition.