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Program Performance During FY1999 This discussion of the Foundation’s FY 1999 program performance provides an overview of NSF’s Annual Performance Report, which is being prepared in compliance with the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA). Although FY 1999 was NSF’s first year of GPRA implementation, NSF staff have been involved with GPRA activities since 1997, when the Foundation’s first GPRA Strategic Plan was developed. The GPRA Strategic Plan was used as the guiding framework for the Foundation’s FY 1999 Annual Performance Plan, which was developed in conjunction with the development of NSF’s FY 1999 budget. The concurrent development of the performance plan and the budget creates a direct link between programmatic activities and the achievement of NSF’s strategic goals. NSF’s FY1999 Annual Performance Report will be available Spring 2000, and will provide a more complete and comprehensive discussion of NSF’s performance results and data verification and validation. GPRA implementation has been a challenge for NSF and other agencies whose mission involves research activities. Implementation is a challenge for two reasons: (1) it is difficult to link research outcomes to annual investments and the agency’s annual budget; and (2) the results of the research outcome goals do not lend themselves to quantitative reporting. NSF developed an alternative format, approved by OMB, using external expert review panels to assess research results and reporting research outcome goals utilizing a qualitative scale. GPRA Performance Goals
These three sets of goals are mutually supportive. The longer term desired results of NSF awards are reflected in the Outcome Goals. Achieving the desired Outcome Goals depends in part on the quality of the investment process, which is related to the efficiency and effectiveness of the agency’s administration and management. The Investment Process Goals and Management Goals are necessary to ensure that the longer term Outcome Goals will be achieved. NSF’s key strategy for success is through use of a rigorous merit review process in making awards for activities that will influence research and education in math, science, and engineering, both directly and indirectly. A more detailed discussion of merit review is included in the Agency Profile section. Performance Goals in the Broader Context:
The Integration of Goals, Programmatic Activities, and the Budget
1 Given the integrative nature of research and education, research activities are expected to include an education component.
A more detailed discussion of NSF support of research and education activities is provided in the Agency Profile section. Additional information about NSF’s budget is provided in the Discussion and Analysis of the Financial Statements section, "Budgetary Integrity: NSF Resources and How They Are Used." Finally, the Statement of Net Cost links programmatic activities—Research and Education—to program costs. Confidence in the Data: NSF’s Verification
and Validation Process
NSF is currently updating its data systems to include the new data that NSF will be reporting in its FY 2000 Performance Report. Of course, the Foundation will continue striving to improve its data quality and accuracy by improving processes, systems and data input. |
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