New updates of the PMA scorecard and status of the initiatives from the owners.  -Carl

May  2003

Table of Contents:

1. Government-Wide News
2. Integrating Performance and Budgeting
3. Improved Financial Management
4. Strategic Management of Human Capital
5. Competitive Sourcing
6. Citizen-Centered e-Government

The Government Performance Series consists of 7 interactive forums on key elements of the PMA.  By attending one of these forums, you will acquire the latest news and practices on the PMA, as well as receive applied training in performance management using established frameworks and case studies from key innovators from government. These forums are kept to a limited size to encourage interactivity and have been very, very well received.  Bring actual projects you are working on for expert review and improvement using the methodologies you learn.

The seven specially designed forums are:

·         Strategic Planning and Change Management

·         Performance-Based Budgeting Simulation

·         “Show Me the Measures” – Model Performance Measures for Government Functions

·         Employee Performance Evaluations and Development

·         Performance-Based Contracting

·         Performance Measures for IT

·         Designing, Auditing and Improving Performance Information Systems in Government

For more information on the Government Performance Series, go to: PMA Featured Programs

1. Government-Wide News

a. New PMA Scorecard Released

-The latest version of the PMA scorecard, March 31, has been released.  Two agencies, Education and Commerce, improved from red to yellow in the strategic management of human capital initiative, but these are the only improvements to the current status.  Many agencies have improved in the progress category, however.  To view the latest scorecard, go to: PMA Scorecard

b. OMB Director Mitch Daniels to Step Down

-The White House announced that Office of Management and Budget Director Mitch Daniels would leave his position by early June.  The departure will set the way for Daniels’ expected bid to run for governor of Indiana.  No replacement for director has been named.  To read more about his departure go to: Government Executive

c. Mercatus Performance Report Scorecard

-The Mercatus Center, George Mason University, released the “Fourth Annual Performance Report Scorecard: Which Federal Agencies Inform the Public?”  Since the fiscal year 1999, the Mercatus Center has evaluated and ranked the annual performance reports required under the Government Performance Results Act (GPRA) for the 24 CFO Act Agencies.  To download the report, go to: Mercatus Performance Report Scorecard

d. GAO Report: Program Evaluation Culture and Partnerships Help Build Agency Capacity

-The General Accounting Office (GAO) released a report that assists agency efforts to provide credible performance information and the capacity to rigorously evaluate program results.  GAO examined the experiences of five agencies that demonstrated evaluation capacity in their performance reports and offers strategies to develop and improve program evaluations.  To download this report, go to:  Program Evaluation

2. Integrating Performance and Budgeting
 

a. PART Guidance for FY 2005 Budget Released

-OMB has released the Program Assessment Rating Tool Guidance for the FY 2005 budget assessments.  Along with the new guidance, OMB has also released the updated PART workbooks for the various program functions to be assessed.  To access the PART guidance and pertinent material, go to: PART Guidance

-For a breakdown on the highlights of the FY 2005 PART go to: FY 2005 PART Highlights
 

b. Peacock Addresses FY 2005 PART

-Associate Director at OMB, Marcus Peacock, provides an update on the FY 2005 PART.  Mr. Peacock discusses how the government will begin “hitting our pace on Budget and Performance Integration.”  He focuses on the results and impact of last year’s PART and what to expect this year.  To read this update, go to: Peacock Update
 

c. Legislative-Executive Budget Summit                            June 13, 2003        Rayburn House Office Building

- A coalition of good government groups is convening a free dialogue summit for legislative staff and executive branch officials to explore three areas of the PART: how Congress can use the program performance information contained in the President’s ’04 budget proposal to assist in its oversight, authorization and appropriations decisions; what kind of performance information federal agencies should provide to Congress; and how the PART utilized in the President’s FY04 Budget be used by both the Legislature and the Executive Branches to evaluate the results of each federal program.  For more information or to register go to: Legislative-Executive Budget Summit 
 

d. Best Practices Forum on Performance-Based Budgeting June 25-27, 2003          Arlington, VA

-As part of the Government Performance Series, The Performance Institute is sponsoring a best practices forum on performance-based budgeting.  This hands-on training will provide attendees with an overall explanation of OMB’s designs for PART’s integration with past performance mandates, such as GPRA and PMA.  This forum is also designed to walk through the PART questionnaire through a step-by-step evaluation of a successful program.  For more information or to register, go to: PMA Featured Programs

3. Improved Financial Management
 

a. USDA and Treasury Explain Their Audit Milestones

-United States Department of Agriculture and The Department of the Treasury both achieved significant milestones in their financial reporting for the FY 2002: USDA received a clean audit opinion for the first time in its 140-year history and Treasury met the accelerated year-end financial reporting deadline two years ahead of schedule.  Both agencies report on how they were able to overcome challenges and accomplish these goals.  To read how USDA achieved a clean audit opinion, go to: USDA Financial Management.   To read how Treasury met the accelerated reporting deadline, go to: Treasury Financial Management
 

b. Springer Explains Progress and Performance Indicators

-Linda Springer provides an update on the progress made in improved financial reporting.  Ms. Springer reports that agencies are excelling in producing more timely financial information and highlights specific agencies’ successes.  She also discusses the use of financial management performance indicators.  To read this update, go to: Springer Update
 

c. GAO Testimony: Challenges With Improper Payments

-General Accounting Office released the testimony of McCoy Williams, Director, Financial Management and Assurance, on the challenges remaining in reducing the government’s improper payments.  Mr. Williams reports on the Improper Payments Information Act, related draft guidance issued by OMB, and GAO recommendations to agencies on actions that can be taken to prevent or reduce improper payments.  To download this testimony, go to: Improper Payments

4. Strategic Management of Human Capital 
 

a. Workforce Shortage Crisis Temporarily Averted

-Workforce trends have shown that the mass retirements expected by federal workers may be averted due to the poor state of the economy.  Lost savings and investments have prompted many federal workers who are currently or approaching retirement age to hold off on retiring from government until they are able to build back their portfolios.  To read more on how the crisis is being eased, go to: Federal Times
 

b. James Addresses Agency Successes

-Office of Personnel Management Administrator Kay Coles James reports on progress federal agencies have made in strategic management of human capital.  Ms. James specifically addresses: workforce analysis, succession planning, and results-oriented performance management.  To read this update, go to: James Update
 

c. GAO Testimony: Observations on DOD’s Personnel System and Governmentwide Human Capital Reform

-Department of Defense is in the midst of a major transformation effort to transform its forces and improve business operations.    This testimony from Comptroller Walker provides preliminary observations on the transformation of its civilian personnel system and discusses the implications of such changes for governmentwide human capital reform.  To download this testimony, go to: Walker Testimony
 

d. Defining the Role of HR in Competitive Sourcing     May 28-29, 2003              Arlington, VA

-To assist in the understanding of the role of Human Resource Managers in the revised OMB Circular A-76, The Performance Institute is presenting this comprehensive forum on Defining the Role of HR in Competitive Sourcing.  This Forum will demonstrate how to comply with the new legislation and mandates, overcome employee fears and misconceptions, assess the benefits and drawbacks of competitively sourcing specific HR functions, and accommodating displaced employees.  For more information or to register, go to: PMA Featured Programs

5. Competitive Sourcing
 

a. Styles Discusses Agency Successes and Lessons Learned

-While every agency is still in the red in the competitive sourcing initiative, Office of Federal Procurement Policy Administrator Angela Styles reports on the significant progress made by some agencies to achieve efficiencies that the initiative is intended to create.  Ms. Styles also discusses factors that lead to success and common causes of delay.  To read this update, go to: Styles Update
 

b. GAO Report: Spending and Workforce Trends for Federal Procurement

-General Accounting Office released a report on procurement related trends and challenges that affect federal agencies.  GAO analyzed recent federal procurement patterns, the use of various procurement methods, and changes in the acquisition workforce.  To download this report, go to: Federal Procurement
 

c. Hill Briefing on Competitive Sourcing                             May 16, 2003        Rayburn House Office Building

-Sponsored by the Cato Institute, this free Hill briefing will discuss competitive sourcing, privatization, and other options for government reform.  Featured speakers are: Angela Styles, Administrator, Federal Procurement Policy, Office of Management and Budget; Geoffrey F. Segal, Director, Privatization and Government Reform Policy, Reason Foundation; and Chris Edwards, Director, Fiscal Policy Studies, Cato Institute.  To register for this briefing, go to: Competitive Sourcing Briefing

6. Citizen-Centered e-Government
 

a. E-Gov Strategy: Implementing the PMA for E-Government

-The Administration has released a new update to the E-Government strategy.  The new document describes the E-Government achievements since February 2002, the challenges facing E-Government leaders in 2003 and 2004, and the strategy to address these challenges.  It also includes detailed information about the initial set of 24 cross-agency E-Government initiatives and other related efforts. To download this report, go to: E-Gov Strategic Plan
 

b. Forman Discusses 2003 E-Gov Strategy

-Mark Forman, Director of Technology and E-government at OMB, reports on the newly issued E-Gov Strategy and what progress has been made in the E-Government initiative.  Mr. Forman highlights some recent successes and states the case for what is expected for the next year.  To read this update, go to:  Forman Update
 

c. Network Government for the Digital Age

-This report, sponsored by Progressive Policy Institute, informs government policymakers about what drives the New Economy and promotes policies that encourage technological advances, economic innovation, and entrepreneurship.  To download this report, go to: Network Government for the Digital Age
 

d. GAO Report: A Framework for Assessing and Improving Enterprise Architecture Management (Version 1.1)

-General Accounting Office issued the first update to the maturity framework for enterprise architecture management.  The purpose of this framework is to provide federal agencies with a common benchmarking tool for planning and measuring their efforts to improve enterprise architecture management, as well as to provide the Office of Management and Budget with a means for doing the same governmentwide. To download this framework, go to: Enterprise Architecture Management

Project Director: Carl DeMaio
Newsletter Editor: Vincent Badolato  

The PMA Update is provided as an informational newsletter to all federal employees.  Should you not wish to continue to receive the newsletter, please respond to this email address with "unsubscribe" and your email will be taken off of the distribution list.

The Performance Institute is a private think tank that serves as the nation’s leading authority and repository on performance-based management practices for government organizations.  Its mission is to identify, study and disseminate the leading management innovations pioneered by “best-in-class” government programs at federal, state and local levels. Through its national conferences on pressing issues, interactive executive training programs, and best practice research projects, the Institute provides cutting-edge expertise in the design, implementation and evaluation of strategies to solve operational challenges and enhance government performance.

Reason Public Policy Institute is a public policy think tank promoting the principles of competition, accountability, performance and transparency in government.  Through practical and innovative approaches to complex government management problems, Reason seeks to assist federal, state and local government leaders in implementing change in the design and management of government programs.