The Department of Commerce 

Annual Program

Performance Report

Fiscal Year 1999

William M. Daley

Secretary

Robert L. Mallett

Deputy Secretary
Secretary's Foreword

This document is the first Annual Program PerformanceReport for the Department of Commerce as required by the

Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA). 

I am pleased to report that fiscal year 1999 marked many

memorable achievements by the Department of Commerce.

Working with the private sector and other Federal, state and

local government agencies, the Department promoted

E-commerce and the digital divide, broadened trade, and

managed and improved our Nation’s environment while

promoting sustainable development. We neared completion on

preparations for the 2000 Census, the largest peacetime

mobilization in our Nation’s history. On the management front, we received an unqualified

(“clean”) audit opinion, on our Consolidated Financial Statements, for the first time ever. We

became No. 1 in government procurement for small-, minority- and women-owned business.

We implemented rigorous controls over our information technology projects, which comprise 17

percent of our budget. These achievements and many others provide the basis for sound

delivery of our information and services to the American citizen.

This document is the Department’s first formal report, under the GPRA, to both Congress and

the public on how well we have discharged our responsibilities. As you examine the record, I

believe you will agree that our successes are many. The Department of Commerce met or

exceeded 60 percent of the performance goals set forth in our Annual Performance Plan.

Another 38 percent of our performance targets were substantially met, while two percent were

not achieved.

I am pleased with our progress and our dedication to continual improvement. This record is a

tribute to each of our employees, who have been working around the country and overseas to

provide every customer the best service possible. 

This report, and our achievements, mark the beginning of a new partnership with America.

There is no better way to guarantee results than to offer a public accounting for our use of your

investment in government. I invite you to examine our record as we pursue our commitment to

continued excellence. 

William M. Daley

Secretary of Commerce

FY 1999 Annual Program Performance Report ii
Table of Contents

Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

FY 1999 Performance by Bureau

Economic Development Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Economics and Statistics Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

International Trade Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Bureau of Export Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Minority Business Development Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

Patent and Trademark Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95

Technology Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111

National Telecommunications and Information Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . .149

Meeting Management Challenges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159

Appendices

Appendix 1 – FY 1999 Goals and Measures by Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165

Appendix 2 – Comparison of Goals and Measures between 

FY 1999 APPR and the FY 2000 APP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .173

Appendix 3 – Aggregate Scoring for Each Measure by Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . .179

FY 1999 Annual Program Performance Report v