The Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) 

is a United Stateslaw enacted in 1993, one of a series of 

laws designed to improve government performance 

management. The GPRA requires agencies to engage 

in performance management tasks such as setting goals, 

measuring results, and reporting progress. To comply 

with the GPRA, agencies produce strategic plans, 

performance plans, and conduct gap analyses of 

projects. The GPRA of 1993 established project 

planning, strategic planning, and set up a framework of 

reporting for agencies to show the progress they make 

towards achievement of goals. 

The GPRA Modernization Act of 2010 developed a 

more efficient and modern system, based on the 

existing requirements of the 1993 Act, for government 

agencies to report their progress. 

As part of this federal mandate, all SAMHSA grantees 

are required to collect and report performance data 

using approved measurement tools. The Notice of 

Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) describe the data 

collection and performance measurement process. 

Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA)

What is GPRA? What are NOMS?

Which SAMHSA Programs Collect These Data? 

National Outcome Measures (NOMs) are standardized operational 

definitions and outcome measures identified by SAMHSA. There are 10 

NOM domains intended to link to data records and to develop 

benchmarking strategies to determine acceptable levels of outcomes. 

SAMHSA program Centers utilize their own core set of NOMs to collect 

and report program performance. 

Resources

Abstinence

Employment/education

Crime and criminal 

justice

Stability in housing 

Retention in treatment

(CSAT)/readmission rate 

to hospitals (CMHS)

Access/capacity

Perception of care

Social connectedness

Cost-effectiveness

Use of Evidence Based 

Practices (EBPs)

SAMHSA’s NOMs are included in SAMHSA’s GPRA survey instruments for both discretionary and block grant programs. These data 

help SAMHSA create a national picture of substance misuse and mental health services to build evidence to support program 

outcomes associated with SAMHSA grants.

Discretionary Grants & State 

Opioid Response (SOR)

Block Grants

Infrastructure Development, 

Prevention & Mental Health 

Promotion (IPP)

All SAMHSA’s discretionary grants 

(including SOR) are required to collect 

and report GPRA data. 

SAMHSA limits the required NOMs 

domain data elements to a subset of 

the original 10 NOMs for discretionary 

programs.

All SAMHSA’s block grants are 

required to collect and report GPRA 

data. 

Some discretionary grants collect 

infrastructure and clinic/community 

level data. These are required by GPRA.

Most IPP grants collect only data 

pertaining to access, capacity, 

evidence-based practices (EBPs)

SAMHSA limits the required NOMs 

domain data elements to a subset of 

the original 10 NOMs for block grant 

programs.

❑ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Block Grants | SAMHSA

❑ Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant | SAMHSA

❑ GPRA Measurement Tools: GPRA Modernization Act of 2010 | SAMHSA

❑ GPRA Client Outcome Measures FAQ for Discretionary Services Programs (samhsa.gov)

For more information, visit: 

CMHS NOMs Client-Level Services Tool for Adults |SAMHSA

CSAP GPRA Modernization Act Data Collection Tools | SAMHSA

CSAT GPRA Client Outcome Measures Tool | SAMHSA

GPRA NOMS