Strategic Plan

FY 2004-FY 2009

A merican J obs,

A merican V alues
History and Enabling Legislation

The Department is one of the oldest cabinet-level departments in the United States

government. Originally established by Congressional Act on February 14, 1903, as

The Department of Commerce and Labor (32 Stat. 826; 5 U.S.C. 591), it was

subsequently renamed the U. S. Department of Commerce by President William H.

Taft on March 4, 1913 (15 U.S.C. Section 1512). The defined role of the new Department

was "to foster, promote, and develop the foreign and domestic commerce, the mining,

manufacturing, and fishery industries of the United States."

Bureaus

Office of the Inspector General

Economic Development Administration

Economics and Statistics Administration

Bureau of Economic Analysis

Census Bureau

International Trade Administration

Bureau of Industry and Security

Minority Business Development Agency

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Technology Administration

Office of Technology Policy

National Institute of Standards and Technology

National Technical Information Service

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

In addition to these bureaus, Departmental Management (DM) encompasses the

responsibilities of the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Chief Financial Officer and Assistant

Secretary for Administration, Chief Information Officer, and the Office of General

Counsel. DM provides the policies, planning, and administrative guidance that ensure

bureau operations are consistent with Secretarial priorities and with the Department’s

mission.

Location

The Department is headquartered in Washington, D.C., at the Herbert Clark Hoover

Building. The Department’s Internet address is http://www.commerce.gov

Employees

The Department has over 35,000 employees. Temporary staffing levels increase by

over 300,000 employees during the Decennial Census.

Who We A r e
We are not here to mark time, but to make progress,

to achieve results, and to leave a record of excellence.

President George W. Bush

October 15, 2001

AMERICAN JOBS, 

AMERICAN VALUES

Mission

The Department of Commerce creates

the conditions for economic growth and

opportunity by promoting innovation,

entrepreneurship, competitiveness, and

stewardship.
FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

STATEMENT FROM THE SECRETARY

The Department of Commerce and its component bureaus create the

conditions for economic growth and opportunity by promoting innovation,

entrepreneurship, competitiveness and stewardship. The Department of

Commerce’s mission is linked directly to encouraging the economic growth that

benefits all American industries, workers and consumers; enhancing

technological leadership and environmental stewardship, and advocating market growth

strategies. The responsibilities of the Department of Commerce are to foster U.S. business and

industry; stimulate international trade; measure and analyze social development and economic

activity; advance our nation’s scientific and technological capabilities; and understand, predict,

and protect the natural environment.

With these principles guiding us, we present the Department of Commerce’s strategic plan for

the fiscal years 2004 through 2009. The plan highlights our efforts to respond to and influence

the three major forces that will shape the U.S. economy of the future: the enhancement of

economic growth for American industries, workers, and consumers (see Goal 1), science and

technological leadership (see Goal 2), and environmental stewardship (see Goal 3). 

Donald L. Evans

Secretary of Commerce
FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

STATEMENT FROM THE DEPUTY SECRETARY

Ijoin Secretary Evans in conveying our strategy for the next five years.

The Department’s task during that time is a challenging one. 

The Department of Commerce and its component bureaus create the conditions

for economic growth and opportunity by promoting innovation, entrepreneurship,

competitiveness and stewardship. In addition to the strategies set forth in this plan for carrying

out our mission, the Department of Commerce is implementing the President’s Management

Agenda, a comprehensive strategy for addressing the most pressing management issues

confronting government today. This effort crosses both organizational and programmatic

boundaries by: strengthening management of and providing full accountability for financial

resources; improving the strategic management of the federal workforce to guarantee that it has

the right combination of necessary skills and knowledge; increasing the use of competitive

sourcing to maximize operational efficiency; expanding electronic access to federal products and

services through “e-government”; and integrating budget functions and performance

measurement to ensure wise use of resources. The Department of Commerce has launched a

Departmental initiative to ensure that employees are able to carry out their program activities in a

safe and secure environment.

With these principles guiding us, we present the Department of Commerce’s strategic plan for the

fiscal years 2004 through 2009. This document provides an opportunity for learning about our

programs and functions and how they are carried out to support American business.

Samuel W. Bodman

Deputy Secretary
FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

Departmental Organization Chart

Office of the Inspector General

Economic Development Administration

Economics and Statistics

Administration

International Trade Administration

Bureau of Industry and Security

Minority Business Development Agency

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Technology Administration

National Telecommunications and

Information Administration

Census Bureau

Bureau of Economic Analysis

Office of the Secretary

(Departmental Management)

Office of Technology Policy

National Technical

Information Service

National Institute of Standards

and Technology
FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Our Mission, Vision, Strategic Goals, and Objectives 1

Strategic Goal 1 - Provide the information and tools to maximize U.S. competitiveness and enable economic

growth for American industries, workers, and consumers 15

Objective 1.1 - Enhance economic growth for all Americans by developing partnerships with private

sector and nongovernmental organizations 18

Objective 1.2 - Advance responsible economic growth and trade while protecting American security 25

Objective 1.3 - Enhance the supply of key economic and demographic data to support effective 

decision-making of policymakers, businesses, and the American public 30

Strategic Goal 2 - Foster science and technological leadership by protecting intellectual property, enhancing 

technical standards, and advancing measurement science 41

Objective 2.1 - Develop tools and capabilities that improve the productivity, quality, dissemination, 

and efficiency of research 44

Objective 2.2 - Protect intellectual property and improve the patent and trademark system 50

Objective 2.3 - Advance the development of global e-commerce and enhanced telecommunications 

and information services 53

Strategic Goal 3 - Observe, protect, and manage the Earth’s resources to promote environmental stewardship 57

Objective 3.1 - Advance understanding and predict changes in the Earth’s environment to meet 

America’s economic, social, and environmental needs 59

Objective 3.2 - Enhance the conservation and management of coastal and marine resources to 

meet America’s economic, social, and environmental needs 64

Management Integration Goal - Achieve Organizational and Management Excellence 71

Overarching Key Factors Affecting Achievement of the Department’s Goals 77

Crosscutting Programs 81

Program Evaluations 87

Appendices 91

Appendix A: NOAA Performance Goal Crosswalk 93

Appendix B: Department Goals, Objectives, Outcomes, and Performance Measures 95

Appendix C: Glossary of Acronyms 103
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OUR MISSION, VISION,

STRATEGIC GOALS, AND

OBJECTIVES

1
STRATEGIC GOAL 

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Our Mission,Vision,Strategic Goals,

and Objectives

Vision

For almost 100 years, the Department of Commerce has partnered with U.S. businesses to maintain a prosperous,

productive America that is committed to consumer safety and the protection of natural resources. Together, we have a

record of innovation in manufacturing, transportation, communications, measurement, and materials that has helped to

sustain U.S. leadership of the international marketplace. By assisting the private sector, our vision is that the United States

continues to play a lead role in the world economy.

Strategic Goals

To achieve this mission and fulfill our vision, we have three strategic goals and a management integration goal. Each strategic

goal involves activities that touch American lives every day.

Provide the information and tools to maximize U.S. competitiveness and enable economic

growth for American industries, workers, and consumers

General Goal/Objective 1.1: Enhance economic growth for all Americans by developing partnerships with

private sector and nongovernmental organizations.

General Goal/Objective 1.2: Advance responsible economic growth and trade while protecting American

security.

General Goal/Objective 1.3: Enhance the supply of key economic and demographic data to support effective

decision-making of policymakers, businesses, and the American public.

Activities

Collect, analyze, and disseminate demographic and economic data to serve public and private

decisionmakers at all levels, on fiscal and monetary policy, business finance and investment strategy, and

personal household economic matters. 

Provide leadership in trade promotion, economic development, and economic analysis.

OUR MISSION, VISION, STRATEGIC GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES

3 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

Mission Statement 

The Department of Commerce creates the conditions for economic growth and opportunity by promoting

innovation, entrepreneurship, competitiveness, and stewardship.

GOAL 1:
Open foreign markets to U.S. exports by ensuring compliance with U.S. negotiated international

trade agreements.

Provide investments and technical assistance for economic development projects in economically

distressed communities.

Promote private and public sector investment in minority businesses.

Facilitate the export licensing process, provide guidance to the exporting community, and monitor and

support the U.S. defense industrial and technological base. 

Enforce export control and anti-boycott laws consistent with national security and foreign

policy objectives.

Enforce U.S. trade laws to ensure U.S. firms compete on a level playing field.

Foster science and technological leadership by protecting intellectual property, enhancing

technical standards, and advancing measurement science

General Goal/Objective 2.1: Develop tools and capabilities that improve the productivity, quality,

dissemination, and efficiency of research.

General Goal/Objective 2.2: Protect intellectual property and improve the patent and trademark system.

General Goal/Objective 2.3: Advance the development of global e-commerce and enhanced

telecommunications and information services.

Activities

Facilitate the implementation of new technologies used in both the workplace and home.

Advise the President on domestic and international communications policy and manage the federal

government’s use of the radio frequency spectrum.

Promote the availability and support new sources of advanced telecommunications and information

services.

Partner with industry to provide technical leadership for the nation’s measurement and standards and

technological infrastructure.

Make commercial transactions and international trade more efficient by establishing national standards and

assuring national and international traceability to these standards.

Ensure the intellectual property system contributes to a strong economy, encourages investment in

innovation, and fosters the entrepreneurial spirit.

OUR MISSION, VISION, STRATEGIC GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES

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GOAL 2:
Observe, protect, and manage the Earth’s resources to promote environmental stewardship

General Goal/Objective 3.1: Advance understanding and predict changes in the Earth’s environment to meet

America’s economic, social, and environmental needs.

General Goal/Objective 3.2: Enhance the conservation and management of coastal and marine resources to

meet America’s economic, social, and environmental needs.

Activities

Make possible daily weather reports.

Alert Americans of impending severe storms.

Monitor and predict changes in our oceans and global climate.

Protect and manage our precious coastal resources and fisheries.

Promote safe navigation by continuing to map uncharted waters and revising previously mapped areas.

Achieve organizational and management excellence

The Department has established a management integration goal, applicable with equal importance to all bureaus.

Just as the first three goals are in line with the forces that will drive the U.S. economy of the future, the

management integration goal is in line with the driving trend toward more effective organizational management

in both public and private settings. 

Our progress in pursuit of these five-year goals may be assessed in annual increments through the use of specific

performance goals and measures established for each objective. The Department’s Annual Performance Plan

describes in greater detail the performance goals that we employ to achieve our strategic goals and objectives,

and includes our analysis of the capital, information, and other resources that we will require to meet these goals. 

Fulfillment of the Department’s mission and supporting strategic goals is accomplished through its bureaus.

Each bureau has a broad range of responsibilities and functions, described briefly in the following sections. 

OUR MISSION, VISION, STRATEGIC GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES

5 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

GOAL 3:

MANAGEMENT INTEGRATION GOAL:
Strategic Goal 1

Provide the information and tools to maximize U.S. competitiveness and enable economic growth for

American industries, workers, and consumers

The Department’s first goal is to encourage and support economic expansion and to increase the prosperity of all Americans,

regardless of their geographical location or ethnic origin. 

The Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) monitors and measures socioeconomic and macroeconomic trends.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) produces the gross domestic product and related economic measures that provide

essential information to improve decision-making on such matters as monetary policy, federal and state budget projection,

allocation of federal funds to states, and trade negotiations. The Census Bureau supports BEA by collecting statistical

information about the economy. The Census Bureau also provides demographic information about U.S. society by conducting

regular surveys and Decennial Censuses that are used by federal, state, and local officials and by private stakeholders to make

important policy decisions. Full implementation of the new American Community Survey (ACS) will in the future provide

additional annual data—data that will be more detailed and more timely than are available now. The Census Bureau also provides

official measures of electronic commerce (e-commerce) activity and is evaluating how e-commerce affects existing measures of

economic activity. 

The International Trade Administration (ITA) assists the growth of small export businesses, enforces U.S. trade laws and trade

agreements, maintains U.S. trade with established markets, promotes new business with emerging markets such as China, and

improves access to overseas markets by identifying and pressing for the removal of tariff and nontariff barriers. ITA also improves

access to foreign markets by enforcing compliance with U.S. trade laws and agreements. 

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) advances U.S. national security, foreign policy, and economic interests.

BIS’s activities include regulating the export of sensitive goods and technologies in an effective and efficient manner; enforcing

export control, antiboycott, and public safety laws; cooperating with and assisting other countries on export control and strategic

trade issues; assisting U.S. industry to comply with international arms control agreements, monitoring the viability of the U.S.

defense industrial base, and seeking to ensure that it is capable of satisfying U.S. national and homeland security needs; and

promoting public-private partnerships to protect the nation’s critical infrastructures.

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) assists economically distressed communities by promoting a favorable

business environment through its strategic investments in public infrastructure and technology. These investments help attract

private capital investment and jobs that address problems of high unemployment, low per capita income, and severe economic

challenges. EDA supports effective decision-making by local officials through its capacity-building programs. 

The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) helps minority-owned businesses obtain access to public and private debt

and equity financing, market opportunities, and management and business information to increase business growth in the

minority business community. 

Challenges and Perspectives

The Department faces a number of key challenges. The following are viewed as among the most significant as a result of their

importance to our mission, or their complexity, cost, or urgency.

OUR MISSION, VISION, STRATEGIC GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 6
Ensuring a Fair Avenue for Trade

Many of the world’s countries are developing increasingly sophisticated techniques to protect their home markets

from foreign sales and to provide unwarranted subsidies or other benefits to their own firms. Such actions negatively

affect the ability of American firms to sell overseas—and the 10 percent of American jobs that depend on our nation’s

international trade. To effectively deal with these foreign behaviors, we face three specific tasks or attitudes. First,

we must ensure that our staff has the appropriate skills and training. Secondly, we must effectively engage in bilateral

and multilateral negotiations. Finally, we must find and employ more effective ways of encouraging American

companies to share with us the necessary data to allow Commerce to successfully protect U.S. interests.

EDA Reauthorization

The Department’s EDA was reauthorized in 1998 for five years. We require reauthorization in 2003 so that we may

continue providing economic assistance to areas experiencing economic distress. The continuity of these programs

helps our nation promote higher-skill, higher-wage jobs and leverage private sector investment. 

Meeting Users’ Needs for Quality Economic Measures

The ever-changing U.S. and world economies require our constant diligence to develop new measures and methods

to accurately and reliably measure the U.S. economy and its interactions abroad. To meet this challenge, the

Department and the experts at the BEA and the Census Bureau are seeking to develop new estimation methods,

improve data sources, increase access to real-time data, and generate more timely measures. These improvements

will support our ability to provide the most timely, relevant, and accurate economic measures that are increasingly

required by our nation’s business leaders and policymakers. 

Being a Catalyst for Minority Business Growth

We will continue to help strengthen America’s minority businesses in two areas: access to capital and competing

online. Minority-owned businesses are concentrated in industries with low rates of capital investment, and historical

trends show that the rates of minority ownership drop sharply as firm size and need for capital increase. Our experts

will design and implement programs to reduce this barrier. In addition, electronic commerce has become a vehicle

for contract bundling and online auctions. Bundling, which is increasingly used for global sourcing, has introduced

additional competitors to America’s minority firms. Also, being unfamiliar with reverse auctions, minority firms

have tended to bid below costs and place themselves at risk of bankruptcy. Department experts will seek to reduce

these barriers to minority business survival and growth. 

Census 2010 Reengineering

Our Census experts will continue to reengineer plans and processes to improve coverage, reduce risk, and contain

costs for the 2010 Census. We will be exploring technological and methodological innovations. In addition, the

federal government and others throughout the country will be more widely using the ACS, which the Census Bureau

has been testing since 1996. We expect to establish the survey as a regular annual data collection instrument to

provide yearly information updates on subjects that have been covered in the past by the Decennial Census “long

form.” Success with the ACS would substantially simplify the 2010 Census. Using only short forms would enable

us to focus resources on improving coverage and efficiency, thereby containing costs. 

OUR MISSION, VISION, STRATEGIC GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES

7 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN
Strategic Goal 2

Foster science and technological leadership by protecting intellectual property, enhancing technical

standards, and advancing measurement science

The Department’s second strategic goal is to provide the infrastructure that will enable U.S. businesses to maintain their

technological advantage in world markets. Globalization and recent technology-driven productivity gains are providing new

challenges. Continued partnership, collaboration, and cooperation between the Department and industry will enhance and

promote the nation’s technological edge. 

Intellectual property is a key issue in the competitive free-enterprise system. By continuing to protect intellectual endeavors,

and thereby encourage technological progress, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) preserves the nation’s

technological edge, which is a key to its current and future competitiveness. 

Technological advances serve as the drivers for strong economic vitality, solid increases in productivity, increased rates of

investment, and high-wage job growth, all of which combine to produce higher standards of living. Maintaining technological

innovation preeminence is critical to our nation because it fuels sustainable economic expansion, improves our quality of life,

protects our homeland, helps us meet many future needs, holds promise for the future of education, and improves the standard

of living for the world as a whole through export of the resulting products of that innovation. The Technology Administration (TA)

serves as a focal point to foster the development, diffusion, and adoption of new technologies; to disseminate information on

U.S. and foreign technology strategies and best practices; and to create a business environment conducive to innovation.

TA addresses these issues through the Office of Technology Policy (OTP), the National Institute of Standards and

Technology (NIST), and the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). OTP develops recommendations and advocates

policies and initiatives to use technology to build economic strength. To assist in fostering innovation, OTP manages the

National Medal of Technology program, the highest honor bestowed to America’s leading innovators by the President. Through

NIST, a world-class, world renowned facility with two Nobel Prize winners, TA conducts cutting-edge research; and develops

and disseminates measurement techniques, reference data and materials, test methods, standards, and other infrastructural

technologies and services required by U.S. industry to maintain competitiveness. Through NTIS, TA meets the challenge of

permanent preservation of and ready access to the taxpayers’ investment in research and development through the acquisition,

organization, and preservation of the documents and publications added annually to the permanent collection. NTIS also

promotes the development and application of science and technology by providing technologically advanced global e-commerce

channels for dissemination of specialized information to business, industry, government, and the public, and makes public

access to the bibliographic database available to all users. 

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) advocates for policies and conducts technical

research that supports delivery to all Americans of the latest telecommunications technology and services. NTIA manages

federal use of the radio spectrum, promotes the use of spectrum that most efficiently serves all Americans, and maintains

readiness for response to crises. NTIA supports innovative telecommunications and information technologies through basic

research performed at its laboratory, the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS). ITS performs extensive basic research

on the quality of digital speech, audio, and video compression and transmission characteristics. This research has the potential

to improve both the performance of telecommunications networks and the availability of digital content on the Internet. 

OUR MISSION, VISION, STRATEGIC GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 8
Challenges and Perspectives

The Department faces a number of key challenges. The following are viewed as among the most significant as a result of their

importance to our mission, or their complexity, cost, or urgency. 

Planning for Facilities Construction and Renovation

During this decade, we will spend several billion dollars on 38 construction and renovation projects that are currently

in planning or early development stages. To ensure optimal use of funds, we are monitoring the progress, schedule,

costs, and plans of each project so that we can identify and correct potential problems as early as possible.

Construction projects include a $1.3 billion leased facility for relocating the USPTO within a single campus for a

20 year period, a $235 million advanced measurement laboratory to ensure adequate capability to measure

increasingly sophisticated and miniaturized products, and $340 million for two new buildings for our Census Bureau

and the renovation of NIST laboratories in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Boulder, Colorado. 

Processing of Patent and Trademark Applications

Over the past decade, the USPTO has faced an increasing demand for its products and services, particularly the

filing of patent and trademark applications. Patent filings, which increased dramatically in FYs 1999 and 2000,

increased at a lower rate in FYs 2001 and 2002, consistent with a declining economy. Despite the decrease, the

number of applications filed was the fourth highest level ever recorded. Based on indications that the economy is

expected to improve slowly, patent and trademark application filings are expected to grow at a single-digit rate during

the planning horizon.

In recent years, the greatest growth in patent filings has been in the more complex areas of electrical/computer

engineering and biotechnology/bioinformatics technologies. To more effectively manage its workload, the USPTO

is focusing on deployment of full electronic application processing, a radical redesign of the entire patent search and

examination system, and restructuring the agency’s fee schedule to provide incentives to its customers. 

In the 21st Century Strategic Plan, the USPTO is committed to controlling patent and trademark pendency times

through aggressive timeliness goals. Assuming the resources contemplated by the plan are available, for patents,

the USPTO will make available, on average, a first office action for first-filed U.S. non-provisional patent

applications, at the time of 18 month publication, and a patent search report for other patent applications in the same

time frame—by far the fastest in the world. At the same time, the USPTO will continue to pursue the ultimate goals

of achieving 18 month pendency. Likewise, trademark first action pendency and total pendency will be two and

twelve months respectively in FY 2008 and thereafter. To achieve this, the USPTO has begun implementing its

aggressive strategic plan to transform the agency from a one-size-fits-all patent and trademark process into a qualityfocused, responsive, market-driven intellectual property system. 

The USPTO’s 21st Century Strategic Plan emphasizes quality in every initiative and productivity as the key to

reducing pendency and inventory, while transforming the agency into an information age, e-commerce style,

paperless agency that reflects the values of the President’s Management Agenda. The plan emphasizes excellence

in examiner staffing through certification and recertification of knowledge, skills and abilities; greater use of

electronic systems and outside resources to process patent and trademark applications; and a faster, less costly

alternative to the courts for challenging patents. 

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9 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN
Strategic Goal 3

Observe, protect, and manage the Earth’s resources to promote environmental stewardship

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) envisions a twenty-first century in which environmental

stewardship, assessment, and prediction serve as keystones to the enhancement of economic prosperity and quality of life and

to the improved protection of lives and property. 

The twenty-first century poses complex challenges for NOAA. Every aspect of NOAA’s mission—ranging from managing

coastal and marine resources to predicting changes in the Earth’s environment—faces a new urgency, given intensifying national

needs related to the economy, the environment, and public safety. As the new century unfolds, new priorities for NOAA action

are emerging in the areas of climate change, freshwater supply, ecosystem management, and homeland security.

NOAA responds to all of these challenges through its own strategic plan, which forges a path for meeting the needs of the

nation today and addressing the critical issues of tomorrow. NOAA has set an agenda for wise investment of finite resources

through four mission goals, namely:

Improve protection, restoration, and management of coastal and ocean resources through ecosystem-based

management.

Increase understanding of climate variability and change.

Improve accuracy and timeliness of weather and water information.

Support the nation’s commerce with information for safe, efficient, and environmentally sound transportation.

The elevation of ecosystem management and climate science to high-priority goals is noteworthy, and intended to meet the

challenges of the twenty-first century. In recent years, extreme drought and flood conditions in large regions of the nation

combined to make improved water resources prediction an urgent issue for NOAA’s future weather and climate mission. Human

health linkages with weather, climate, and ecosystem goals are also priorities. The emphasis on the nation’s needs for expanded

commerce and economic development directly relates to the Administration’s focus on a healthy and growing economy.

Challenges and Perspectives

The Department faces a number of key challenges. The following are viewed as the most significant as a result of their

importance to our mission, or their complexity, cost, or urgency. 

Strengthening Our Stewardship of Marine Resources

Many of our nation’s fisheries and other living marine resources are at risk due to over-fishing or from other humaninduced or environmental changes. The deterioration of our natural resources impacts our food supply, creates losses

to our economy, and challenges our ability to meet domestic and international agreements for the protection of these

resources. We will vigorously meet these challenges by improving the quality and scope of our science to better

assess the state of fisheries and other marine resources, including what factors influence their recovery and

sustainability. We will apply this knowledge to formulate the most appropriate policies for ensuring the future health

of our nation’s marine resources, such as our plan for restoring salmon runs in the Pacific Northwest. Through such

policies we will obtain the greatest economic and social benefits to the nation from these precious resources.

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FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 10
Management Integration Goal

Achieve organizational and management excellence

The Department’s management integration goal—to achieve organizational and management excellence—is equally important

to all bureaus. 

All Departmental bureaus will seek to achieve more efficient and more effective management by: 

Acquiring and managing the fiscal and related resources necessary to support program goals. 

Acquiring, managing, and developing a diverse, skilled, and flexible staff, using information technology as an

essential tool.

Acquiring and managing the technology and related resources to support program goals. 

The Department is moving aggressively toward meeting the goals of the President’s Management Agenda. The five governmentwide management improvement initiatives include strategic human capital management, expanding e-government, competitive

sourcing, strengthening financial management, and more effectively integrating budget and performance management. 

Challenges and Perspectives

The Department faces a number of key challenges. The following are viewed as among the most significant as a result of their

importance to our mission, or their complexity, cost, or urgency. 

Enhancing Information Security Throughout the Department 

The Department will be broadening the protection afforded its information systems and data. Every system

throughout the Department and its bureaus is subject to well-managed risk assessments, which include documenting

successful testing or a specific plan for taking remedial action. We will be revising our information technology and

security policies and requirements to ensure that they reflect federal standards, best practices, and state-of-the-art

advances in controls, evaluation, accreditation, and contingency planning. 

Emergency Preparedness within the Department

The nation continues to face significant vulnerabilities in our ability to respond to emergencies. The Department

has developed a comprehensive Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and has instituted a rigorous testing program.

Similarly, COOPs for certain of the bureaus and specific field locations are undergoing testing and further

refinement. We are currently working to complete all appropriate testing and implementation of these plans, which

address all requirements for maintaining essential activities and re-establishing normal operations in the event of an

emergency, e.g., human resources, facilities and infrastructure, and information technology systems. 

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11 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN
Occupant emergency plans and emergency response structures have been reviewed, have been revised where

necessary, and are in place for most sites. We are continuing to develop enhanced response capabilities for all types

of emergencies, recognizing that it is a massive task to ensure our preparedness for many different types of

emergencies across the country. The Department will continue to emphasize the importance of effective preparation,

work cooperatively with other federal agencies, seek the advice of experts, and allocate resources in the most

productive manner possible. 

Future Workforce Requirements

Like other agencies, the Department faces significant challenges in ensuring an appropriately sized and competent

workforce. During the next five years, approximately one-half of the Commerce workforce will become eligible for

retirement, leading to the potential for significant loss of experience and institutional memory. During the coming

decade, we will also face requirements that our workforce become increasingly specialized and expert in several

fields in which prospective hires will be in high demand. At the same time, we must ensure that our employees are

representative of the nation’s population. To meet these needs, the Department will examine and modify its hiring

practices, explore options for more effectively competing with private sector employers, and seek any appropriate

changes in laws and regulations needed to allow the Department to enhance its appeal to America’s workforce.

Relationship of Departmental Strategic Goals to Bureau Performance Goals 

The Department is a diverse organization having a wide variety of roles and responsibilities to satisfy its mission. In developing

the strategic goals while integrating the budget with the strategic plan, Commerce identified those strategic goals to which each

bureau applied in measuring their activities and performance. Therefore, performance goals within each bureau are aligned

with one of the Department’s strategic goals. As such, bureau performance goals and measures serve as a means to evaluate

Commerce’s progress in achieving its strategic goals and overall mission.

President’s Management Agenda

Departmental Management (DM) exercises oversight for Department-wide policies and procedures and works with the bureaus

to implement government-wide and DM reforms. These reforms, intended to achieve President Bush’s vision of a citizencentered, results-oriented, and market-based government, include the five crosscutting initiatives established in the President’s

Management Agenda: (1) strategic management of human capital, (2) competitive sourcing, (3) improved financial

performance, (4) expanded electronic government, and (5) budget and performance integration.

Strategic Management of Human Capital 

Workforce projections show that more than half of the federal workforce will be eligible for retirement within the

next five years. To respond to this extraordinary surge in prospective retirements, the Department is taking steps to

ensure that it retains vital knowledge, skills, and management capabilities through workforce analyses, recruitment

and retention plans, and a Senior Executive Service candidate program.

The Department strives to create an environment in which all employees are valued for the diverse mix of talents,

skills, and experiences they bring to the workplace; receive the training opportunities needed to effectively carry

out ever-evolving program responsibilities; and are able to effectively balance professional responsibilities with

family commitments.

OUR MISSION, VISION, STRATEGIC GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 12

1
Competitive Sourcing

The competitive sourcing initiative offers opportunities for the federal government to improve program efficiency

and realize significant cost savings through increased competition. Historical data suggest that cost savings in

the range of 20 percent to 50 percent can be achieved when federal and private sector service providers compete.

The Department is opening competition for performing activities that can be carried out by private firms, such as

administrative support and payroll services.

New opportunities for competition continually arise as a result of gradual changes in program responsibilities and

private sector capabilities. Using the tools provided by the Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act, the Department

is conducting competitions and converting positions. In so doing, we are assessing the appropriateness and costeffectiveness of using the private sector to perform operations currently performed by the federal government. 

Improved Financial Performance

Accurate and timely financial information is integral to optimum performance and accountability. The Department

continues to work toward producing clean audits to support effective management. The Department is using

technology to continue to add new bureaus to the Commerce Administration Management System to improve its

overall financial performance. This system, when used by all bureaus, will provide accurate and timely information

that supports the Department’s performance and is inherent in providing accountability to the American people.

The Department will continue to reduce the number of deficiencies that could affect the Department’s ability to

reliably record, process, or report financial data.

Expanded Electronic Government

Expanded electronic government is key to fostering citizen-centered government with a greater volume of service at

lower cost. The Department spends almost $1 billion on IT each year. We will ensure that this investment is wisely

used to:

Safeguard the security and integrity of the Department’s IT systems.

Implement applications to address common requirements such as e-grants, e-regulation, and e-signatures.

Provide citizen-centered service by creating easy-to-find single points of access to the Department’s programs,

including a government-wide e-procurement portal.

Increase the ease of electronic access for persons with disabilities.

Budget and Performance Integration

Program results will offer the taxpayers a transparent view of how their tax dollars are being spent at the federal level.

Challenges in assessing program performance in relation to budget resources include improving the way that the

Department’s programs are assessed, the integration of financial and budget information, and determining how the

Department can best report program performance. The Department is ensuring accountability at the highest levels

of the organization, including bureau heads, and is integrating analysis, presentation, and execution of budget and

performance efforts throughout the Department.

OUR MISSION, VISION, STRATEGIC GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES

13 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

4

3

2

5
In addition to these five government-wide initiatives, the Department has launched an initiative to ensure that our

employees are able to carry out their program activities in a safe and secure environment. 

A Department Emergency Operations Center has been established and a Departmental COOP has been

developed. We are now testing the COOP plan as well as examining Commerce-specific programs to identify

those activities that involve special security requirements. 

The Employee Safety and Health Program is being reinvigorated through the re-establishment of the

Department’s Safety Council, recruitment of a new Director for Occupational Safety and Health, development

of a communications campaign to disseminate educational materials to Department employees, and

implementation of a Safety Program Action Plan to address a wide range of concerns such as safety training

and awareness, workplace inspections, and health services. 

OUR MISSION, VISION, STRATEGIC GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 14
15

STRATEGIC

GOAL 1

Provide the information and tools to maximize

U.S. competitiveness and enable economic growth

for American industries, workers, and consumers 
FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN
STRATEGIC GOAL 

17 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

Strategic Goal 1

Provide information and tools to maximize U.S. competitiveness

and enable economic growth for American industries, workers, and

consumers

The Department is committed to opening and expanding foreign markets for U.S. goods and services and improving

America’s export performance. We will promote U.S. export growth through the implementation of the Trade Promotion

Coordinating Committee (TPCC), consistent with national security and U.S. foreign policy objectives, and will enhance

cooperation with our partnership organizations in order that U.S. companies can benefit from global business opportunities and

increase American jobs. Through free market trade negotiations and case-by-case advocacy, we will ensure a “level playing

field” for U.S. firms and combat predatory trading practices.

The Department ensures that export controls do not place U.S. firms at a competitive disadvantage in world markets by

eliminating outdated controls and streamlining the process for obtaining export licenses for products that remain under export

controls. These continual improvements are being made while being mindful of the dual-use nature of some commercial

technologies and the national security implications of those technologies.

The Department also provides decisionmakers with valuable statistical information related to our economy and our population.

Improved economic and demographic statistics are essential to sound business forecasting and understanding the strength and

direction of the nation’s economy. The Department is at the forefront of national efforts to continually improve these statistics.

With this in mind, the Census Bureau is endeavoring to fundamentally change the way the federal government conducts the

Decennial Census. As part of this effort, the Census Bureau plans to remove the long-form questionnaire from the 2010 Census.

The long-form is to be replaced by the ACS to produce accurate demographic data on an annual basis.

In support of disadvantaged individuals and communities, the Department promotes private enterprise and job creation in

economically distressed communities. The Department also promotes private enterprise within minority communities. 

Bureaus Contributing to this Goal

The ITA works to open foreign markets, promote export activity, and ensure fair competition and compliance with international

trade agreements. 

The BIS administers U.S. dual-use export controls, enforces U.S. export control and antiboycott laws, ensures compliance with

arms control treaties that impose requirements on U.S. industry, monitors the viability of the defense industrial base, and assists

key nations that export or serve as key transit points for sensitive commodities and technologies in developing effective export

control systems.

The BEA produces some of the most closely watched statistics that influence the decisions of government officials, business

leaders, households, and individuals. BEA’s economic statistics play a key role in critical decisions affecting monetary policy,

tax and budget projections, and business investment plans. 

STRATEGIC GOAL 1
STRATEGIC GOAL 

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 18

The Census Bureau provides timely and relevant economic and demographic statistics to government officials and the public.

These data affect important policy decisions that help improve the U.S. social and economic conditions.

The EDA works with state and local organizations to support two important public policy objectives: creating wealth and

minimizing poverty. EDA provides strategic investments in public infrastructure and local capital markets to provide lasting

benefits for economically disadvantaged areas. EDA also provides crucial economic assistance to communities experiencing

economic dislocations and environmental disasters. 

The MBDA fosters the establishment and growth of minority businesses in the United States by providing business development

services to the minority business community. MBDA also establishes strategic public/private sector alliances to assist minority

businesses in developing entrepreneurial practices. 

General Goal/Objective 1.1

Enhance economic growth for all Americans by developing partnerships with private sector and

nongovernmental organizations

Performance Outcomes

Increase private enterprise and job creation in economically distressed communities (EDA)

Improve community capacity to achieve and sustain economic growth (EDA)

Increase trade opportunities for U.S. firms to advance the United States international commercial and strategic

interests (ITA)

Expand U.S. exporter base (ITA)

Improve customer and stakeholder satisfaction (ITA)

Improve the U.S. competitive advantage through global e-commerce (ITA)

Increase opportunities and access of minority-owned businesses to the marketplace and financing (MBDA)

Increase private enterprise and job creation in economically distressed communities 

The EDA encourages the private sector to make capital investments to produce goods and services and increase productivity,

thereby providing the higher-skill, higher-wage jobs that offer opportunity for all Americans. EDA’s investment guidelines set

standards to achieve its performance goals of promoting private investment and job creation in distressed communities. Potential

investments must be market-based and proactive; maximize private capital investment; create higher-skill, higher-wage jobs;

and offer a positive return on the taxpayer’s investment.

Within the framework of this goal, EDA focuses on two of its programs, the Public Works and Development Facilities, and the

Economic Adjustment program. EDA investments in public works serve as catalysts for other public and private investments

for the establishment or expansion of commercial and industrial facilities in distressed communities. EDA also provides

economic adjustment investments for infrastructure improvements and revolving loan funds to help communities and businesses

respond to severe economic dislocations caused by major layoffs, plant shutdowns, trade impacts, natural disasters, and the

closure of military bases and energy labs, and similar actions that adversely affect local economies.

STRATEGIC GOAL 1
STRATEGIC GOAL 

19 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

Improve community capacity to achieve and sustain economic growth 

EDA is proud of its active partnership with its economic development partners at the state, regional, and local levels.

The partnership approach to economic development is key to effectively and efficiently addressing the challenges facing

economically distressed U.S. communities.

EDA must continue to build upon its partnerships with local development officials; Economic Development Districts;

University Centers; faith-based and community-based organizations; and local, state, and federal agencies. But more

importantly, EDA will forge strategic working partnerships with private capital markets, and look for innovative ways to spur

development.

EDA planning funds support the preparation of Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies that guide EDA public works

and economic adjustment implementation investments, including revolving loan funds. Sound local planning also attracts other

federal, state, and local funds plus private sector investments to implement long-term development strategies. Evaluations of

EDA’s public works and defense adjustment programs show that EDA capacity-building programs play a significant role in the

successful outcomes of its infrastructure and revolving loan fund projects.

Some of the outcomes that EDA anticipates as a result of its programs, directly by programs under Goal 1 (Promote private

enterprise), and indirectly by programs under Goal 2 (Build local capacity), include:

An increase in the amount of private sector dollars invested in distressed communities.

An increase in the number of jobs created or retained in distressed communities.

Increase trade opportunities for U.S. firms to advance the United States international commercial and

strategic interests 

ITA advances U.S. international commercial and strategic interests by creating an infrastructure that encourages economic

growth, technological competitiveness, and sustainable development. This is achieved through mobilization of financing and

development of commercial infrastructure in target countries, increased information flow to U.S. exporters about target

countries, through bilateral and multilateral trade negotiations, and through government-to-government cooperative efforts to

remove non-tariff trade barriers. 

ITA will support the President in reinvigorating the international trading system by supporting and participating in the new

round of global negotiations, a Free Trade Area of the Americas, and other important regional and bilateral negotiations.

The passage of Trade Promotion Authority offers new challenges and opportunities for the United States to open foreign markets

by providing an important tool to break down barriers with all countries. ITA will provide complex industry and economic

analysis, conduct and support the negotiations, and measure the impact of the trade agreements. ITA will also work closely with

foreign governments and regulatory officials in the developing world to devise strategies to address regulatory barriers, head off

potentially harmful regulations, and help shape regulations and standards that facilitate business and improve the quality of life.

On November 14, 2001, in Doha, Qatar, the members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreed on a new work program

that includes comprehensive multilateral trade negotiations that will take place over the next three years. Future WTO work

will cover a variety of areas affecting international business and commerce, including industrial tariff and non-tariff barriers,

agriculture, services, and trade rules. The members will take up additional areas of negotiation, such as investment rules and

competition, after the second half of 2003. At the end of the negotiations, U.S. exporters of industrial and agricultural goods

and services should find that they have improved access to overseas markets.

STRATEGIC GOAL 1
STRATEGIC GOAL 

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 20

Expand U.S. exporter base

ITA seeks to increase export opportunity awareness among U.S. companies by proactively identifying potential exporters who

need assistance leveraging electronic and traditional media, centralizing relationships with customers, and developing alliances

and partnerships to deliver export messages. ITA’s domestic offices are located to capitalize on high-export activity areas

identified by trade patterns, and to facilitate aggressive outreach to traditionally under-served rural and minority communities. 

ITA focuses on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with fewer than 500 employees by tailoring existing products and

services to their needs; providing technical assistance and matchmaking capability using e-commerce and the Internet;

expanding established exporters into additional markets; and coordinating government-wide, collaborative advocacy efforts

through the TPCC. The chief aim is to consistently deliver the complete package of export assistance to businesses throughout

the United States. In doing so, ITA hopes to increase the number of U.S. exporting companies as well as increase the value of

U.S. exports to new markets. ITA is the only nationwide source of one-on-one export counseling assistance for SMEs.

Changing economic, technological, and social conditions in the last two decades have altered how international trade is

conducted. This changing international trading environment presents U.S. exporters with numerous challenges and

opportunities. There are new markets to target, new trade barriers to overcome, a need for differing types of export assistance,

shifts in industry dynamics, a stronger role for international organizations and alliances, and various policy mandates to be

considered, including foreign policy and U.S. security goals.

Improve customer and stakeholder satisfaction

In August 2001, President Bush announced his management agenda, which describes initiatives designed to create a government

that is focused on results, is more accessible to its citizens, and is client-centered. In support of the Administration’s vision for

government that is client-oriented, ITA is committed to improving both customer and stakeholder satisfaction. ITA’s customers

are U.S. businesses. American firms expressed several needs for enhanced products, service offerings, and service delivery

capabilities from ITA to export more successfully in a fair trade environment. As ITA is finding from program analysis, U.S.

businesses want online customized information products and simplified access to ITA services. ITA often partners with other

agencies, both public and private, to meet its customers’ needs. Other government agencies frequently join ITA in its efforts to

promote trade or expand market access. ITA also works with nongovernmental organizations, such as trade groups or other

private sector organizations, to fulfill its mission and to address the needs of U.S. businesses. 

Improve the U.S. competitive advantage through global e-commerce

ITA continues its focus on e-commerce, a major channel to further U.S. exports. The scope of e-commerce influence is broad,

covering market access, customs, services, government procurement, and other areas of export promotion. ITA’s e-commerce

export promotion program has four main goals: helping small businesses use the Internet to find markets overseas, helping

established U.S. information technology companies to expand overseas, helping emerging economies make the transition to the

digital age, and ensuring that both the Internet and foreign markets are open and accessible. ITA provides exporters with

desktop access to the international marketplace through the use of electronic products and services such as Export.gov and

BuyUSA.gov. These two major Internet sites provide basic information on navigating through the steps in the export process,

in addition to international market research and online matchmaking services with foreign buyers. BuyUSA.com and

Export.gov work in partnership to help SMEs complete export transactions. Using a wide variety of e-commerce tools and

services from both public and private sector sources, ITA employees help U.S. businesses evaluate new overseas markets and

take advantage of foreign sales opportunities. 

STRATEGIC GOAL 1
STRATEGIC GOAL 

21 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

Some of the outcomes that ITA anticipates as a result of its programs include:

An increase in the number of U.S. exporters entering new markets.

An increase in the number of U.S. firms exporting for the first time.

An increase in the dollar amount of exports in targeted products and markets.

Increase opportunities and access of minority-owned businesses to the marketplace and financing

The MBDA is an entrepreneurially focused organization that provides business development services to the minority business

community via a combination of funded projects and e-commerce. Although an array of business development services are

provided and measured, obtaining contracts and financing are the major components of business development. MBDA monitors,

verifies, and captures results in its performance database.

Minority business is impacted by the identification of market opportunities. This key indicator of business success must be

measured to determine wealth and opportunities necessary for economic security. A strategy designed to provide minority

businesses access to the global marketplace leads to increases in innovation, productivity, wealth creation, and global

competitiveness, which are necessary for sustained domestic economic growth and expansion.

As the minority business community continues to grow, the demand for capital will increase over the next 20 years. MBDA

collects and assesses information about the financing needs of the minority business community. MBDA will disseminate the

results to financial institutions, policymakers, and the minority business community. Additionally, MBDA is exploring

innovative strategies and instruments to increase capital flow to minority communities. MBDA’s funded network contributes

to the development of minority businesses. 

MBDA will make every effort to ensure that information on financing opportunities is made available to minority-owned

businesses through its funded network of organizations and its minority business Internet portal. In addition, MBDA will hold

a number of meetings to discuss regulatory reforms that need to be made in order to increase financing opportunities.

MBDA applies an e-commerce and e-government strategy to its market-focused programs and operations that will increase the

propensity of minority businesses to utilize information technology. 

MBDA will provide access to management and technical assistance resources that can assist minority businesses in their efforts

to increase capacity through strategic alliances. In addition, MBDA will work with appropriate federal partners regarding

contract opportunities with the federal government.

MBDA will hold several meetings with venture capital firms to discuss increasing the amount of venture capital available for

minority business enterprises. In addition, the annual minority enterprise development week conference will have an investor’s

showcase where minority business enterprises will have the opportunity to present business ideas to venture capitalists.

Some of the outcomes that MBDA anticipates as a result of its programs include:

An increase in the number of contracts received by assisted minority-owned businesses.

An increase in the dollar value of financial packages to assisted minority-owned businesses.

STRATEGIC GOAL 1
STRATEGIC GOAL 

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 22

Program Evaluation

EDA uses program evaluations to develop valid performance measures and provide a more complete understanding of overall

program performance. In FY 2002, EDA completed the following evaluations: EDA RLFs: Planning Local Structural Change

and Overall Performance, EDA RLFs – Performance Evaluation, The Impact of EDA RLF Loans on Economic Restructuring,

and The Impact of Planning on EDA RLF Performance. EDA also conducted the following two evaluations involving capacity

building programs: Evaluation of University Center Program and Evaluation of Planning Program. EDA expects to complete

the following evaluations in FY 2003: Local Technical Assistance Program Evaluation and Economic Adjustment Program

Evaluation. 

ITA’s strategic plan (covering fiscal years 2002 through 2006) helped to define ITA’s strategic direction and outline a resultsbased performance agenda. It has served as ITA’s roadmap to become more a customer focused, result-driven organization.

The plan includes themes intended to improve ITA’s critical functions and key programs (export promotion, market access and

trade compliance, trade policy and negotiations advancement, assessment of unfair trade practices, and generation of trade

statistics.) ITA will consider conducting certain program evaluations to ensure effective monitoring of our performance and

results based on previously conducted evaluations and assessments. This process is already under way. In FY 2003, ITA

completed a Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) review of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service’s (USFCS) programs.

The PART review has indicated performance management areas where ITA needs to collect and analyze additional information

to improve its planning and management process. Presently, ITA is reviewing its current business processes and ITA-wide

performance measures to assess progress toward its long-term and annual goals. Additionally, ITA is determining how to

appropriately implement results from the 2003 fee study. The outcome of this work, coupled with evaluations identified in the

PART, will enable ITA to build a strong foundation for its next strategic plan.

MBDA’s Reorganization Plan established an Office of Performance and Program Evaluation that will assess the success of all

of its program initiatives and internal operations. This office will review and evaluate performance measurements, and develop

and conduct a comprehensive, ongoing evaluation process to assess and improve the effectiveness of agency programs.

Currently, MBDA conducts performance assessments periodically on each of its funded projects. A detailed, comprehensive

source verification process is used to confirm the validity of data. The strategic planning process ensures that performance

measurements continue to assess program effectiveness. 

MBDA’s service providers sign three-year cooperative agreements that are renewed annually. The three-year agreements outline

the number and dollar value of contracts, and the number and dollar value of financial transactions required on a quarterly

basis during the contract period. Daily, staff monitors input of these measures into the Performance Reporting System.

Feedback is provided concerning progress on a quarterly and/or as-needed basis. Annually, renewal of the cooperative

agreement is based on performance as it relates to achieving the goals. A comprehensive evaluation of the results of the

performance of service providers is conducted semi-annually.

MBDA’s performance measures will assess the success of all of its program initiatives and internal operations. MBDA will

use these benchmarks to evaluate performance, and develop and conduct a comprehensive, ongoing evaluation process to assess

and improve the effectiveness of agency programs. 

External Factors

The General Accounting Office (GAO) has recognized that measuring the performance of economic development programs is

difficult because of the many external factors that can influence local economies. To ensure strong program performance, EDA

targets assistance to projects that can provide direct and lasting benefits to economically distressed communities. EDA programs

STRATEGIC GOAL 1
STRATEGIC GOAL 

23 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

are not intended to work alone, but to increase the availability of outside capital (both public and private) for sustainable

development strategies to create and retain private enterprise and jobs in economically distressed areas. In doing so, EDA

recognizes that many factors can influence the level of distress, rate of investment and job creation or retention, and the

availability of other public funding and private entities. For example:

National or regional economic trends, such as slowdowns in the national economy, can cause firms to delay or

postpone investments in new products, markets, plants, equipment, and workforce development. Such trends can

affect the rate at which jobs are created or retained. 

Changes in business climate and financial markets can impact the level of private capital and degree of risk

associated with investment decisions, particularly for firms considering establishing or expanding operations in highly

distressed areas.

Downturns in the national or regional economy can increase the demand for EDA assistance and reduce the

availability of state and local funding. EDA regulations provide for waivers or reductions of the non-federal share,

allowing EDA to cover a higher share of total project costs depending on the level of distress demonstrated by the

local community. 

Natural disasters and other major events can dramatically impact local economies and create an unanticipated demand

for EDA assistance. This can affect performance in several ways, increasing the number of areas that are eligible for

assistance and the number of areas in highest distress. Such emergencies can alter funding priorities under regular

EDA programs and at times result in emergency supplemental funding. The impact on regular program assistance is

more apparent when supplemental funding is delayed or unavailable.

Several external factors affect ITA’s accomplishment of its goals. One factor is the strength of the world economy. Another factor

is that foreign political instability can affect commercial infrastructure and the means of exchange. New and changing foreign

governments can create barriers to access for U.S. companies. Economic shocks can adversely affect the demand for U.S. products.

Technological advances and large-scale, unexpected capital movement can play a role in whether ITA achieves its targets. 

In 2000 it was estimated that there were 275 million Internet users and nearly four million unique Web sites. The new Internetbased companies, and even traditional firms, that are producing goods and services are changing their business habits and

processes. The expansion of the Internet plays a role in MBDA achieving its targets. They are establishing e-commerce

operations and procedures in an attempt to lower costs, improve customer service, and increase productivity. Furthermore,

driven by the current e-business imperatives and increasing choices by customers, the digital economy is rapidly becoming the

new global economy.

Corporate purchasing practices are undergoing a radical change that requires minority suppliers to alter their strategies.

Supply-chain management; ISO 9000, an international standard for organizations recognized in the public and private sectors;

and business-to-business e-commerce demand that minority businesses also adopt e-commerce technology, be willing to partner

with other firms, and reengineer their processes. 

Federal government contracting programs are designed to be more cost-effective by bundling small contracts into larger

opportunities. Often these larger opportunities are beyond the reach of smaller minority firms. 

STRATEGIC GOAL 1
STRATEGIC GOAL 

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 24

STRATEGIC GOAL 1

Outcome Performance Measure

Increase private enterprise 

and job creation in 

economically distressed 

communities

Improve community capacity 

to achieve and sustain 

economic growth

Increase trade opportunities for

U.S. firms to advance the United

States international commercial

and strategic interests

Expand U.S. exporter base

Improve customer and 

stakeholder satisfaction

Improve the U.S. competitive

advantage through global 

e-commerce

Increase opportunities and

access of minority-owned 

businesses to the marketplace

and financing

Private sector dollars invested in distressed communities as a result of EDA investments

Jobs created or retained in distressed communities as a result of EDA investments

State and local dollars committed per EDA dollar

Percentage of investments to areas of highest distress

Percentage of EDA dollars invested in technology-related projects in distressed areas

Percentage of economic development districts and Indian tribes implementing economic development projects from the 

comprehensive economic development strategy process that lead to private investments and jobs

Percentage of sub-state jurisdiction members actively participating in the economic development district program

Percentage of University Center clients taking action as a result of the assistance facilitated by the University Center

Percentage of those actions taken by University Center clients that achieved the expected results

Percentage of Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (TACC) clients taking action as a result of the assistance facilitated by TACC

Percentage of those actions taken by TACC clients that achieved the expected results

Percentage of local technical assistance and economic adjustment strategy investments awarded in areas of highest distress

Number of new or enhanced ITA partnerships with public and private sector entities to promote U.S. exports

Placeholder for new measure dealing with international trade negotiations

Number of new-to-market firms

Dollar exports in targeted products and markets

Percentage of undertaken advocacy actions completed successfully

Dollar value of completed advocacies (U.S. export content)

Number of U.S. exporters entering new market

Number of U.S. firms exporting for the first time

Number of export transactions made as a result of ITA involvement

Customer satisfaction with the quality of ITA’s products and services

Customer perception of ease of access to export and trade information and data

Customer value: level of awareness of ITA products and services

Employee job satisfaction

Number of customers acquired through proactive ITA efforts

Number of U.S. exporter activities undertaken per customer surveyed

Number of new subscribers using BuyUSA.com e-services

Customer perception of portal ease of use

Percentage of ITA’s significant products and services provided electronically to external customers

Total number of all clients receiving services

Number of contract awards obtained

Dollar value of contract awards obtained

Number of financial awards obtained

Dollar value of financial awards obtained

Number of employee training hours

Number of new job opportunities created

Percent increase in client gross receipts

Percent increase in American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI)

Number of national and regional strategic partnerships

Bureau

ITA

EDA

MBDA

General Goal/Objective 1.1: Enhance economic growth for all Americans by developing partnerships with private

sector and nongovernmental organizations
STRATEGIC GOAL 

25 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

General Goal/Objective 1.2

Advance responsible economic growth and trade while protecting American security

Performance Outcomes

Ensure fair competition in international trade (ITA)

Protect the U.S. national security and economic interests by enhancing the efficiency of the export control system (BIS)

Ensure U.S. industry compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) Agreement (BIS)

Prevent illegal exports and identify violators of export prohibitions and restrictions for prosecution (BIS)

Enhance the export and transit control systems of nations that lack effective control arrangements (BIS)

Ensure fair competition in international trade

The ITA is committed to building a rules-based trading system in which international trade is both free and fair for U.S. firms

and workers by combating subsidy of imports; combating dumping, where foreign goods are “dumped” at less than market

value; and ensuring compliance with trade agreements. ITA identifies and monitors import surges created by imports that are

sold in the United States at less than fair market value, foreign governments subsidy practices, and other harmful import trends.

ITA defends U.S. industry against injurious trade practices by administering the antidumping (AD) and countervailing

duty (CVD) laws of the United States ITA deploys attachés to foreign locations to educate foreign governments and businesses

about U.S. AD/CVD laws and supports U.S. AD/CVD proceedings in foreign locations. ITA expedites investigations when

warranted by import surges and foreign subsidy practices, defends unfair trade practices before the WTO, and coordinates the

Department’s role in the Administration’s steel strategy. As the volume of world trade and investment expands and more

countries enter into multilateral and bilateral trade agreements with the United States, ITA ensures compliance with trade

agreements through consultation with foreign governments, quick identification of noncompliance by communicating and

establishing a relationship with U.S. exporters, improvement of coordination with other agencies, rapid response to illegal acts

by mobilizing strike forces, and close collaboration with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on enforcement

actions. ITA’s Trade Compliance Center (TCC) monitors trade agreements for implementation by foreign governments and for

identification of compliance problems.

Protect the U.S. national security and economic interests by enhancing the efficiency of the export

control system

BIS serves U.S. companies engaged in international trade by analyzing export license applications for controlled commodities

in accordance with Export Administration Regulations (EAR). BIS also serves U.S. companies in conjunction with the

Departments of Defense (DOD), Energy (DOE), and State (DOS) making prompt decisions regarding license applications

and related transactions, and by providing guidance to exporters on how to conform to applicable laws and regulations.

BIS is particularly vigilant in evaluating transactions involving advanced technologies and dual-use products that potentially

can be diverted for use in development programs for weapons, or missiles used as delivery systems for such weapons.

BIS also implements the Defense Production Act by analyzing the defense industrial and technology base to ensure that the

United States remains competitive in sectors that are critical to the national security.

STRATEGIC GOAL 1
STRATEGIC GOAL 

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 26

Responding to increased concern about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, BIS continues to refine U.S. export

controls in light of geopolitical and business realities. BIS also seeks to enhance the effectiveness of the EAR by educating

exporters and other stakeholders in the export licensing process thereby improving industry compliance with export control

regulations. These efforts will increase the efficiency of the license processing system and thus enable exporters to be more

competitive in the global economy while deterring transactions that threaten U.S. security interests.

Ensure U.S. industry compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) Agreement

BIS is responsible for ensuring compliance by U.S. industry with the treaty requirements of the CWC. BIS collects, validates,

and aggregates data from U.S. companies that manufacture or use chemicals covered by the convention; educates those

companies on their treaty rights and obligations; and serves as the lead U.S. government agency for hosting international

inspections of U.S. business facilities subject to convention requirements. BIS’s primary host team role is to ensure that

confidential business information is protected during inspections of U.S. firms. In addition, in the event that the U.S. Senate

ratifies the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Protocol, BIS similarly will serve as lead U.S. government agency in

ensuring compliance by U.S. industry with the IAEA Protocol, and will be required to discharge responsibilities similar to those

imposed under the CWC.

Prevent illegal exports and identify violators of export prohibitions and restrictions for prosecution 

To be effective, export controls must be enforced and violators punished. BIS enforces dual-use export controls for reasons

of national security, foreign policy, nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, and short supply. The Bureau also enforces the antiboycott

provisions of the EAR, the CWC Implementation Act, and the Fastener Quality Act. BIS special agents investigate potential

violations of these laws, and build and present cases for criminal or administrative prosecution. 

BIS enforcement personnel also conduct outreach and education programs to train U.S. exporters to identify and avoid illegal

transactions. A key element of BIS’s preventive enforcement program is the onsite visits made to both current and potential

foreign end-users of sensitive technology. In addition, BIS works with its foreign counterpart agencies to encourage other

governments to implement enforcement measures to complement the Bureau’s export enforcement efforts.

Strong enforcement of U.S. export regulations is critical to protect U.S. security interests. However, U.S. national interests can

also be jeopardized if sensitive materials and technologies from other nations reach countries of concern or terrorists. For this

reason, BIS’s strategy includes promoting the establishment of effective export control systems by other nations. BIS has been

assisting the countries of the former Soviet Union and the former Warsaw Pact nations of central Europe to strengthen their

export control and enforcement regimes. As part of its Transshipment Country Export Control Initiative (TECI), BIS is also

now extending technical assistance to other countries considered proliferations risks due to their involvement in reexport,

transshipment or transit transactions involving sensitive dual-use goods. 

Enhance the export and transit control systems of nations that lack effective control arrangements

Through a series of bilateral and regional cooperative activities co-sponsored with the DOS, BIS helps the nations with which

it works to: (1) develop the procedures and requirements necessary to regulate the transfer of sensitive goods and technologies,

(2) enforce compliance with these procedures and requirements, and (3) promote the industry–government partnerships

necessary for an effective export control system to meet international standards.

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27 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

As a result of such programs, BIS anticipates: 

An increase in the number of cases opened that result in the prevention of a criminal violation or the prosecution of

a criminal or administrative case.

An increase in the number of targeted deficiencies remedied in the export control systems of program nations.

Program Evaluation

In FY 2003, ITA completed a PART review of the USFCS programs. The PART review, reinforced by an independent study

conducted by the Kenan Flagler Business School entitled “Report Card on Trade II,” has identified several challenges and

priorities that require additional review: 

ITA must assess its role in helping exporters deal with overseas governments’ complex regulations. This has become

increasingly important as U.S. exporters explore more challenging markets and as smaller firms increase their export

operations. 

The USFCS PART review identified that ITA needs to obtain insight and additional understanding of how our trading

partners assess their performance.

ITA needs to evaluate where specific trade issues and opportunities exist in existing posts and where increased U.S.

exports can be achieved to improve response times.

In support of the other performance goals under Objective 1.2, the GAO and Office of Inspector General (OIG) continued

their reviews of BIS’s programs and activities. For example, both recommended that BIS increase its monitoring of export

license conditions. 

In addition to the above outside reviews, BIS’s Office of Planning, Evaluation and Management (OPEM) conducted annual

reviews of the performance data to ensure that it is complete and accurate. OPEM also produces monthly performance reports

for the performance measures tracked by the Export Control Automated Support System (ECASS) and semi-annual reports for

other selected measures. During this process, significant deviations from projected targets, if any, are discussed with the

appropriate office so that program changes can be made to help meet the BIS performance goals. A recent indicator of BIS’s

overall program success was its ability to meet targets for nine out of ten performance measures in FY 2002.

External Factors 

All trade is subject to sharp changes and is influenced by the domestic economy and world markets. New/changing governments

can create new barriers to access for U.S. companies. Fluidity of exchange rates, such as large scale, unexpected capital

movements, and technological advances are just several critical external factors impacting the U.S.-foreign trade balance.

Unforeseeable shifts in U.S. policy (for example, suspension of activity with a particular country) or in the policies of client

nations occasionally may preclude execution of funded, scheduled events, or participation of certain national invitees.

The rising volume and complexity of international commerce directly increases the difficulty of applying and enforcing export

controls, and consequently, the difficulty of preventing proliferation. Compliance with export control laws may be

compromised if exporters are not aware of pertaining change requirements. 

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FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 28

With regard to CWC inspections, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) establishes the number

of CWC inspections based on (1) a mandated minimum number, and (2) risk assessments that the OPCW performs. The second

factor is outside BIS’s control. If the number of inspections increases, the ability of BIS to assist companies in preparing for

these inspections could be limited due to budget constraints. 

Priorities and resources of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Office of Chief Counsel/Industry and Security also directly

influence the achievement of this goal. BIS may also have to rely on other agencies to conduct certain investigative activities. 

BIS must continue to rely on other agencies to fund the technical exchange and other activities relating to international export

control cooperation. The process of obtaining this funding while satisfying detailed donor agency requirements is extremely

cumbersome and fraught with uncertainty and delay, making some inefficiencies unavoidable. Two factors that drive the

scheduling of technical exchange activities are: (1) the interagency coordination process that enables agency experts to

participate in the exchanges, and (2) the priorities of the countries involved.

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29 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

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General Goal/Objective 1.2: Advance responsible economic growth and trade while protecting American security

Outcome Performance Measure

Ensure fair competition in 

international trade

Protect the U.S. national 

security and economic 

interests by enhancing 

the efficiency of the 

export control system

Ensure U.S. industry 

compliance with the Chemical

Weapons Convention (CWC)

Agreement

Prevent illegal exports, and

identify violators of export 

prohibitions and restrictions 

for prosecution

Enhance the export and 

transit control systems of

nations that lack effective 

control arrangements

Percentage of AD/CVD cases completed on time

Number of market access and compliance cases initiated

Number of market access and compliance cases concluded

Median processing time for referral of export licenses to other agencies (days)

Median processing time for export licenses not referred to other agencies (days)

Median processing time for issuing draft regulations (months)

Level of exporter understanding of BIS export control requirements (Note: This measure will include international outreach data

after baseline is established in FY 2005)

Number of industry and export control assessments

Number of internal control programs that contribute to compliance with license conditions 

Develop an internal control program (ICP) for the Transshipment Country Export Control Initiative (TECI) (Note: After pilot is

completed in FY 2005, BIS will visit other transshipment hubs and develop tailored ICPs)

Number of site assistance visits conducted to assist companies prepare for international inspections

Number of cases opened that result in the prevention of a criminal violation or the prosecution of a criminal or administrative case

Number of post-shipment verifications completed

Number of targeted deficiencies remedied in the export control systems of program nations

Bureau

BIS

ITA
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General Goal/Objective 1.3

Enhance the supply of key economic and demographic data to support effective decision-making of

policymakers, businesses, and the American public

Performance Outcomes

Meet the needs of policymakers, businesses, non-profit organizations, and the public for current measures of the U.S.

population, economy, and governments (Census) 

Support the economic and political foundations of the United States by producing benchmark measures of the

economy and population for the administration and equitable funding of federal, state, and local programs (Census) 

Meet constitutional and legislative mandates by implementing a re-engineered 2010 Census that is cost-effective,

provides more timely data, improves coverage accuracy, and reduces operational risk (Census)

Support innovation, promote data use, minimize respondent burden, respect individual privacy, and ensure

confidentiality (Census)

Promote a better understanding of the U.S. economy by providing the most timely, relevant, and accurate economic

data in an objective and cost-effective manner (BEA)

Meet the needs of policymakers, businesses, non-profit organizations, and the public for current

measures of the U.S. population, economy, and governments 

Informed decisions require reliable, up-to-date information. The Census Bureau’s programs give decisionmakers current, timely

updates on a wide range of subjects. Examples include unemployment, income, poverty, crime victimization, health insurance

coverage, housing starts, retail and wholesale trade sales, international trade, corporate profits, and manufacturers’ shipments,

orders and inventories.

The Census Bureau provides accurate, timely, relevant, cost-effective, and accessible statistics that are critical to understanding

current conditions in the country. It does so directly by the following means and strategies:

Delivering products at or above quality standards established by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and

the Census Bureau to ensure that the results of all surveys maintain the public’s trust and confidence.

Providing top-quality statistics on a broad set of current social and economic topics on or ahead of established

schedules.

Ensuring relevance by releasing information as quickly as possible, by updating measures to reflect the changing

characteristics of the population and the economy, and by dropping measures that are no longer useful. Doing so

includes, for example, making improvements to income, poverty, and other measures of well being and providing new

definitions of metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas and urban areas, and new occupation, industry, and

product classification systems. 

Developing policy-relevant information and analytic reports that enhance understanding of trends in the nation and

the world, and describe the newest features of the U.S. economy and newest practices of U.S. businesses.
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31 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

Census improves operations of current surveys through testing and implementing alternative methods of data

collection (such as Internet reporting), implementing new automated tools (such as graphically based software) to

create state-of-the-art collection instruments, and training field representatives in new methods. Census also produces

new information using existing data sources by developing cutting-edge techniques and promoting knowledge

sharing. Census also develops and maintains new microdata sets that advance society’s understanding of current

conditions and alternatives for the future.

The success of data collection depends on the cooperation and participation of those who provide the data—individuals,

families, businesses, and governments. Minimizing the reporting burden on respondents increases cooperation and holds down

costs. One means of doing this is facilitating and simplifying reporting by expanding electronic reporting capabilities and

options, such as responding to recurring surveys via electronic means.

One of the greatest opportunities for improving current statistical measures arises from integrating various sources of

information. Such integration will be carried out in a way that maximizes the utility of the data while maintaining

confidentiality.

Because of the Census Bureau’s vast experience in designing, collecting, and disseminating current statistics, it is sought out

by national and international public and private sector organizations for advice and operational assistance. Census meets the

information needs of other agencies by collecting data for them and providing technological assistance services.

This reimbursable work supplies vital information for external clients and provides continuity for the technological and field

infrastructures essential to the successful conduct every ten years of the constitutionally required census. Census carries out

reimbursable tasks in ways that provide accurate, timely, relevant, cost-effective, and accessible products for all customers. 

Census also takes full advantage of federal, state, and private sector information to eliminate redundant data requests.

Support the economic and political foundations of the United States by producing benchmark measures

of the economy and population for the administration and equitable funding of federal, state, and local

programs 

The Census Bureau’s benchmark programs produce accurate, timely, and relevant baseline information used to govern the

United States. They include the Decennial Census of Population and Housing, the Quinquennial Economic Census and the

Census of Governments, and the Intercensal Demographic Estimates Program. Strategies and means that Census uses to achieve

this include the following:

Determining the content and design of the Economic Census and Census of Governments to increase the relevance

and usefulness of the data.

Developing and deploying a streamlined, standardized, and integrated system to process the Economic Census and

Census of Governments to achieve increased efficiencies and facilitate the reporting of data by respondents.

Developing complete mail lists for the Economic Census and Census of Governments.

Conducting, processing, publishing, and disseminating data from the Economic Census and Census of Governments.

The Census of Governments represents the primary source of facts about the structure and function of the public sector of the

U.S. economy. It provides essential information to Congress and federal agencies for planning and evaluating programs that

involve intergovernmental relationships. The census contributes an important element for constructing composite national

economic measures, such as gross domestic product, the Bureau of Economic Analysis’s input-output tables that measure market
STRATEGIC GOAL 

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 32

sectors, and the Federal Reserve Board’s (FRB) flow of funds accounts that provide time-series data of financial flows in the

economy. The Census of Governments’ findings supply vital analytical tools for a wide variety of data users. Among the most

prominent are state and local government officials, educational organizations, criminal justice organizations, public interest

groups, private industry, economic research agencies, and the media.

Census economic statistics programs count and profile U.S. businesses and government organizations in a rapidly evolving

economic environment. This includes conducting an Economic Census and a Census of Governments every five years.

The Economic Census covers all nonagricultural sectors of the economy, publishes data on the activities of more than 22 million

businesses and more than 1,100 industries, and provides detailed geographic information. As a complement to the sectoral

Economic Census program components, the Census Bureau also conducts a series of related programs to collect information

on topics of special interest, for example, minority and women-owned businesses; the characteristics of the nation’s trucking

fleet; business expenses; the flow of commodities; and the economies of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American

Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Determining the content and design of the Economic Census and Census of Governments to increase the relevance

and usefulness of the data.

Developing and deploying a streamlined, standardized, and integrated system to process the Economic Census and

Census of Governments to achieve increased efficiencies and facilitate the reporting of data by respondents.

Developing complete mail lists for the Economic Census and Census of Governments.

Conducting, processing, publishing, and disseminating data from the Economic Census and Census of Governments.

Census demographic programs provide the data used to allocate nearly $200 billion in federal funds each year, conduct

the analyses that underlie the statistical definitions and standards used by the entire federal government in policy

decisions, and establish the baseline sample units that underlie virtually every survey conducted in the United States

by both private and public sectors. Among the means and strategies that Census uses to accomplish this task include:

Producing accurate, timely, and relevant population estimates.

Developing, producing, and disseminating estimates of the population for the nation, states, counties, and

functioning governmental units by collecting, processing, evaluating, and integrating census, survey, and

administrative records data from a variety of federal and state sources.

Using the results of Census 2000, as well as newly developed sources of data on domestic and international

migration, to revise and improve the assumptions and methods used to compile estimates of international

migration.

Incorporating the results of the ACS into population estimates to provide expanded demographic characteristics

for small geographic areas.

Developing a technologically integrated system for producing estimates that improves timeliness and reliability.

Increasing the involvement of state partners and other stakeholders in the production and quality review of

estimates and projections.

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33 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

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Census also produces accurate and timely statistics by developing new samples that reflect the current characteristics

and geographic location of the population. Means and strategies that Census uses to accomplish this task include:

Selecting representative samples of households that are chosen so that the same household is unlikely to be

selected more than once during the decade. 

Building an infrastructure for selecting samples of areas and housing units to respond quickly to changing data

needs of the federal government. This new infrastructure will rely on a continuously updated Master Address

File (MAF) and annual data from the ACS.

With Census 2000 being complete, it is important to continue to make the data and information generated available

and accessible. Census does so by making Census 2000 data available in multiple media formats and informing and

educating stakeholders and customers on how to access and use the data.

Meet constitutional and legislative mandates by implementing a re-engineered 2010 Census that is

cost-effective, provides more timely data, improves coverage accuracy, and reduces operational risk 

Census 2000 was conducted at high cost and at great operational risk. In response and in striving to better meet our nation’s

ever expanding needs for social, demographic, and geographic information, we have developed a multi-year effort to completely

modernize and re-engineer the Decennial Census program. 

This re-engineering effort for the 2010 Decennial Census has four major goals:

1) Improve the relevance and timeliness of census long-form data

2) Reduce operational risk

3) Improve the accuracy of census coverage

4) Contain costs

The re-engineered 2010 Decennial Census program consists of three highly integrated activities designed to take advantage of

opportunities for innovations made possible through the expanded use of technology, major changes in the Bureau’s business

process for data collection, and the use of focused coverage improvement procedures: 

1) The Census Bureau plans to remove the long-form questionnaire from the 2010 Census and replace it with a large

household survey, the ACS. The ACS will collect and tabulate long-form data on an annual basis. Besides improving

the timeliness of these detailed socio-economic data for federal programs and other data users, this will allow the

2010 Census to focus solely on short-form data collection and coverage.

2) The Census Bureau will conduct a multi-year effort to enhance and improve its MAF and geographic database

(TIGER) by bringing them into alignment with global positioning systems (GPS) coordinates and by converting the

Bureau’s home-grown processing environment into one based on commercial off-the-shelf and geographic

information system (GIS) software products. This will allow the 2010 Census to utilize GPS-equipped mobile

computing devices, which in turn will allow the Bureau to make major improvements in its business process for data

collection.

4

3

2

1

2

1
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FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 34

3) The Census Bureau will conduct a multi-year program of integrated planning, development, and testing to completely

restructure the management and conduct of a short-form only census in 2010. This effort encompasses time-critical

major field tests under census-like conditions in 2004 and 2006, and a full dress rehearsal in 2008.

Some of the outputs and outcomes that the Census Bureau anticipates as a result of its programs include:

More accurate statistical data as a result of the increase in response rate to Census surveys.

A stronger 2010 Decennial Census as a result of reaching planning milestones.

Support innovation, promote data use, minimize respondent burden, respect individual privacy, and

ensure confidentiality

The successful execution of the Census Bureau’s goals and objectives depends on our capabilities as a global resource for

statistical, survey, and technological research; geographic systems; and information services. Crosscutting programs provide

essential support for survey and census collection, processing, and dissemination. Our abilities to exploit technology, acquire

and use administrative records, measure and respond to privacy concerns, and apply the latest systems and statistical and survey

methodologies, play a critical role in meeting the Census Bureau’s mission. This goal covers:

An administrative records research program that improves and enhances Census Bureau processes and products.

An integrated Census Bureau privacy and confidentiality research program that leverages ongoing work and

complements that work with new research to monitor, understand, respond to, and inform the public’s views about

privacy and confidentiality.

Geographic systems, the cornerstone to the Bureau’s collection, processing, and dissemination systems that provide

the basic maps, address lists, address and geographic reference files, and associated processing systems needed to

meet the geographic requirements of all Census Bureau programs. The geographic support system (GSS) manages

large volumes of information from both internal and external sources to establish and maintain a current and complete

inventory of housing unit addresses, streets, roads, governmental unit boundaries, and related attribute information.

Centralized information technology (IT) services that provide stable, dependable information technology support and

the ability to continually increase our capacity for IT innovation are intimately linked to the accuracy, timeliness, and

effectiveness of all Census Bureau programs. These IT services must include an IT security program.

Research, testing, and the prototyping of tools, systems, and new methods to improve data collection, capture,

processing, and dissemination across programs that are essential for the Census Bureau to meet its increasing

customer demands for more complex data in a timely and efficient manner. Maintaining adequate response rates,

minimizing respondent burden, meeting complex data needs, improving data quality, and developing innovative

training techniques can all be facilitated through research and the application of core expertise in statistical and survey

methodologies.

Meeting customer needs for new means of dissemination. Feedback from users and potential users allows the Census

Bureau to better understand which alternatives to pursue. The Census Bureau enjoys a strong reputation for producing

accurate information while protecting the confidentiality of the information collected. This reputation supports data

collection activities by reassuring respondents not only that their individual information is protected, but that their

participation is critical to the production of information that is vital to their community and country. The annual

compilation and issuance of the Statistical Abstract of the United States provides vital program data for policy

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35 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

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background and research for congressional staff members and federal, state, and local government officials.

The Statistical Abstract of the United States is also the principal source for annual statistics describing the social and

economic structure of the United States. Information is compiled from more than 250 government, private, and

international organizations. There are also crosscutting periodic supplements such as the County and City Data Book,

State and Metropolitan Area Data Book, and the Census Bureau’s Product Catalog.

Promote a better understanding of the U.S. economy by providing the most timely, relevant, and

accurate economic data in an objective and cost-effective manner 

The economic statistics produced by the BEA enable government and business decisionmakers, researchers, and the public

to follow and understand the performance of the U.S. economy; thus, they are critical to sound economic decision-making at

all levels, from individuals to the highest-level policymakers. BEA prepares national, regional, industry, and international

economic accounts that present essential information on such key issues as economic growth, regional economic development,

inter-industry relationships, and the position in the world economy. The national economic accounts include the national

income and product accounts, which provide a quantitative view of the production, distribution, and use of the U.S. output and

feature GDP, one of the most closely followed of all economic measures. The national accounts also include estimates of our

nation’s stock of fixed assets and consumer durable goods. The regional economic accounts provide estimates and analyses of

personal income and earnings by industry for regions, states, metropolitan areas, and counties. They also include estimates of

gross state product by industry. The industry economic accounts include the input-output tables, which show how industries

interact to provide input to and take output from each other, and the gross domestic product by industry data, which measure

the contributions of private industry and government to GDP. The international economic accounts include the international

transactions accounts (balance of payments) and the estimates of U.S. direct investment abroad and foreign direct investment

in the United States. BEA’s current estimates usually appear first in news releases, and they also are available on the Internet

and in BEA’s monthly journal of record, the Survey of Current Business.

BEA’s statistics must be as timely, relevant, and accurate as possible in order to provide a clear and comprehensive picture of

economic activity. By meeting these goals, BEA estimates are most useful to data consumers. In addition, BEA estimates

must be provided when expected and be readily accessible in easy-to-use formats. 

BEA strives to meet the following goals relating to its programs and services:

Make BEA’s economic accounts and services more responsive to the needs of its customers and partners.

Attract, develop, and retain a highly qualified, diverse workforce prepared to innovate and improve BEA’s statistics.

Upgrade resource management to support BEA’s strategic goals.

Upgrade BEA’s economic statistics by improving statistical methodologies and source data and by using new

technologies.
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FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 36

Program Evaluation 

The Census Bureau’s ability to exploit technologies, enhance and apply support systems, and develop and implement improved

statistical and survey methodologies is critical to meeting its mission needs of day-to-day and year-to-year measurement of the

U.S. economy and population. Evaluations of the Bureau’s mission-critical support programs are numerous and ongoing.

Examples include Boundary and Annexation Survey respondent reporting rates recorded in production control systems, the

annual conduct of the IT Security Self-Assessment survey in accordance with the standards established by NIST, and measures

of customer satisfaction with key Census Bureau products in various media.

The Census Bureau’s statistical program evaluations are numerous and ongoing. The following are some examples:

Demographic Statistics: The Census Bureau regularly generates quality profiles and management reports for both reimbursable

and Bureau-sponsored demographic surveys. These profiles and reports provide statistical measures of reliability and note

compliance with or accomplishment of project tasks.

Economic Statistics: Evaluation of programs by the economic statistics staff has led to better measures of capital expenditures

by U.S. companies, improved the Census Bureau’s ability to capture data on e-commerce activities; clarified what information

companies can provide on their pollution abatement activities; and periodically documented, as required by OMB, the statistical

rigor of the methodologies used to produce the principal economic indicators.

Since the ACS is a continuing program, staff at the Census Bureau will continue to evaluate and report on the quality of ACS

data. The overall objective of this evaluation project is to demonstrate the feasibility, desirability, and importance of

implementing the ACS as a replacement for the Decennial Census long form. This objective will be achieved through a series

of technical and external reports documenting key findings on the performance of nationwide implementation.

One of the major objectives of the MAF/TIGER Enhancements Program is implementation of a comprehensive plan for periodic

MAF/TIGER evaluation, quality reporting, and corrective activities. The results of this plan will guide planning for

cost-effective coverage and geocoding improvement operations. A quality assurance team is preparing MAF and TIGER error

models that include descriptions of frequently found errors, performing a qualitative study to characterize each error’s

significance, and establishing a priority to guide implementation of quality metrics for each of the other four objectives.

For example, the Bureau will develop a statistically sound sampling method for evaluating incoming state, local, and tribal GIS

files and location-corrected contractor files using a random sample of 100 GPS quality assurance points for each file provided.

Other proposed metrics include overall housing unit coverage (perhaps with separate measures for predominantly rural areas),

currency of street and address information, and level of participation by potential geographic partners.

The evaluation of the re-engineered 2010 Census will start with evaluations of the 2004 Census Test. Specific evaluations will

be conducted to answer each of the research questions we have identified for our test objectives. The Census Bureau will

evaluate the proposed methodology tests to ensure that they are well designed and answer critical questions about how the plan

for the 2010 Census can be modified to meet the goals of a re-engineered census. One of the important evaluations that the

Bureau will begin in FY 2004 will assess the effectiveness of using mobile computing devices for non-response follow-up.

Evaluation of BEA programs includes the following:

BEA Advisory Committee: Twice a year, the 13 member BEA Advisory Committee meets to review and evaluate BEA

programs and services. The Committee advises the Director of BEA on matters related to the development and improvement

of BEA’s national, regional, industry, and international economic accounts, especially in areas of new and rapidly growing

economic activities arising from innovative and advancing technologies; and provides recommendations from the perspectives

of the economics profession, business, and government. The meetings are open to the public.
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37 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

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Customer Satisfaction Survey: BEA conducts an annual survey of its users to understand their satisfaction with BEA products

and services. This survey is critical to BEA’s success as users are the final arbitrators of the timeliness, relevance, and accuracy

of BEA data. Recent improvements in the accounts have been noticed in the survey with increased satisfaction by users.

The customer satisfaction survey serves as one of the seven measures used to hold BEA accountable for its performance.

The past two surveys have found that users rated BEA with a 4.3 out of 5 on the level of satisfaction with BEA products and

services. BEA strives to continue to increase this level of satisfaction with continual improvements to the accounts and

investments in the information technology systems used by most users to access BEA data. 

In addition to the customer satisfaction survey, BEA monitors its contacts with users. 

Strategic Program Evaluation: BEA’s 5-year strategic plan is the most important evaluation of its programs and performance.

It is a detailed operating plan that guides BEA’s planning with over 200 detailed milestones per year over a five-year time frame.

As mentioned in the introduction to this section, the plan is developed from the Department’s goals and objectives and the

mission and objectives set by BEA. Managers are responsible to insure that the milestones are met as they feed directly into

the performance measures and budget requests of the agency.

The publicly available plan is annually reviewed and a report of successes is made available to the BEA Advisory Committee,

the Department, OMB, Congress and the public. It clearly indicates which milestones were met and which were not met with

an explanation as to why specific milestones did not get accomplished. In FY 2002, BEA met all of its major milestones and

over 86 percent of the total number of milestones. BEA seeks to continue to meet its major milestones and work to improve

its record in achieving the rest of the milestones. 

Human Capital Management: In FY 2002, BEA contracted with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to conduct an

employee assessment survey to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the organization. The assessment results

were very positive as BEA employees ranked BEA above other federal agencies in 16 of 17 broad categories. The categories

in which employees rated BEA significantly above average were in use of resources, performance measures, diversity, and

rewards and recognition. The survey also revealed a number of important challenges. The two challenge areas identified are

(1) training and career development and (2) job security and commitment to workforce. The survey also pointed out a need to

address employee health and safety issues. The FY 2003 employee assessment survey will be conducted in September 2003

and in the fall each year after.

Information Technology: In the information technology area, several evaluations were completed in support of the

modernization of critical BEA software systems and their underlying infrastructure components. In preparation for a major

reengineering effort, Booz Allen Hamilton completed an end-to-end study of the National Accounts core processing systems.

This study resulted in the development of streamlined system requirements for a new unified central processing system.

An analysis of BEA’s financial management data was completed. This analysis formed the basis for the development of a

management information system (MIS), which provides timely budget and cost data to bureau managers. An evaluation of

BEA’s Central Publishing System was performed to serve as a foundation for moving forward with proposed improvements to

BEA’s publication processes. Eagle Design Corporation performed a “usability” assessment of BEA’s Web site. The results

of this study will be incorporated into a redesign of BEA’s Web site, which will improve customer access to BEA data.

Additional independent evaluations performed included: a requirements analysis of expanding the detail of information

provided on BEA’s Web site, an examination of the alternatives for expansion of BEA’s electronic reporting capabilities, and a

review of the current capabilities and future requirements of BEA’s telecommunication system. 
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FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 38

In addition:

BEA completed an annual self-assessment of management processes and procedures followed for IT capital planning,

IT security, and IT architecture. Our programs received above average rankings based on levels provided by the

Department.

Two tests and evaluations were made of BEA’s disaster recovery capabilities. Each test focused on specific program

areas. Testing successfully verified that BEA was capable of producing its critical data estimates at an off-site location

in support of key mission activities. 

External Factors

Privacy and Confidentiality Concerns

Public perception of both government and nongovernment intrusion into personal and business information privacy is

increasingly negative. This affects the response to surveys and censuses and will be a significant factor affecting the future

performance of the Census Bureau. Any concerns about privacy of information in the Internet age, about confidentiality of

information provided to the government, and about intrusiveness of government programs are potential challenges to the Census

Bureau in collecting information in its surveys and censuses. 

One major mitigation strategy for this problem is to continually inform the public of the Bureau’s privacy and confidentiality

policies for all Census Bureau activities. This involves publishing policy statements via the Census Bureau Web site and

carrying out other information activities. 

Changing Customer Needs

Meeting the needs of our customers is at the heart of our vision to be the leading collector and provider of information.

The Census Bureau has a varied and diverse customer base that ranges from the most sophisticated analyst to the inexperienced

one-time user. Recent technological advances allow the Census Bureau to make more information available more quickly to

more users. However, there are challenges associated with creating a single data dissemination tool that meets everyone’s needs.

A system that frustrates some customers will be seen as a failure even if it effectively serves the needs of most. 

With technological advances, the tension between providing access to information and protecting confidentiality is growing.

The Census Bureau must continue to explore options that achieve both. 

Quality of Source Data

BEA is highly dependent on other government agencies and private organizations for the source data it uses to produce its

economic accounts statistics. Thus, BEA’s ability to provide timely, relevant, and accurate economic data and to move forward

with improvements in its economic accounts is constrained by the quality and availability of that source data. BEA works

closely with its data sources to obtain the best and most complete data possible, and continually refines its estimation methods

to improve its measures, especially in areas with source data deficiencies.

STRATEGIC GOAL 1
STRATEGIC GOAL 

39 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

STRATEGIC GOAL 1

General General Goal/Objective 1.3: Enhance the supply of key economic and demographic data to support

effective decision-making of policymakers, businesses, and the American public

Outcome Performance Measure

Meet the needs of policymakers,

businesses and non-profit 

organizations, and the public 

for current measures of the U.S.

population, economy, and 

governments

Support the economic and 

political foundations of the United

States by producing benchmark

measures of the economy and

population for the administration

and equitable funding of federal,

state, and local programs

Meet constitutional and legislative

mandates by implementing a 

re-engineered 2010 Census that is

cost-effective, provides more timely

data, improves coverage accuracy,

and reduces operational risk

Support innovation, promote data

use, minimize respondent burden,

respect individual privacy, and

ensure confidentiality

Promote a better understanding 

of the U.S. economy by providing

the most timely, relevant, and 

accurate economic data in an

objective and cost–effective 

manner

Household response rate for the Current Population Survey, the National Crime Victimization Survey, and the American

Housing Survey; response rate for the National Health Interview Survey; and household response rate for the Survey

of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)

Release data products from the SIPP and release data products from the Survey of Program Dynamics

Release principal economic indicators

Response rates for Annual Economic Surveys used to update benchmark data during intercensal years [Includes

Annual Survey of Manufacturers (ASM), the Annual Trade Survey (ATS), the Annual Retail Trade Survey (ARTS), and

the Service Annual Survey (SAS)]

Conduct the Economic Census and Census of Governments

Release Decennial Census data products, release Census of Governments data products, and release Economic

Census data products

Release population estimates and survey controls for all subgroups and geographies

Introduce new Census 2000-based samples for the consumer expenditures survey-quarterly (CE-Q)

Introduce new Census 2000-based samples for the consumer expenditures survey-diary (CE-D)

Introduce new Census 2000-based samples for the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)

Introduce new Census 2000-based samples for the American Housing Survey-National (AHS-N)

Implement the American Community Survey (ACS)

Implement MAF/TIGER Modernization

Conduct early 2010 Census planning, development, and testing

Response to the Annual Boundary and Annexation Survey (ABAS)

Meet milestone dates for evaluating and expanding Web-based technology solutions to include more

functionality/business processes

Segment score for overall customer satisfaction on the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI)

Reliability of delivery—economic data (number of scheduled release issued on time)

Customer satisfaction with quality of products and services (mean rating on a 5-point scale)

Percentage of GDP estimates correct

Improving GDP and the economic accounts

Accelerating economic estimates

Meeting U.S. international obligations

Upgrading information technology systems

Bureau

BEA

Census
FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 40
41

S TRATEGIC

GOAL 2

Foster science and technological leadership 

by protecting intellectual property,

enhancing technical standards,

and advancing measurement science 
FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN
STRATEGIC GOAL 

43 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

STRATEGIC GOAL 2

Strategic Goal 2

Foster science and technological leadership by protecting intellectual

property, enhancing technical standards, and advancing measurement

science

Working with U.S. industry to develop and apply technology measurements and standards has been a “growth area” for

Commerce. Commerce supports technology development that can lead directly to breakthroughs in innovative manufacturing

and production methods. Technological advances create jobs and enable the nation’s economy to thrive.

Our laboratories ensure that the United States has the measurement capability needed by industry to continually improve

products and services by conducting research and providing needed infrastructural technologies, such as measurements,

standards, reference materials, and test methods.

Intellectual property is a potent force in and a fundamental component of the global economy. Commerce strives to preserve

the nation’s competitive edge by protecting intellectual property and encouraging technological innovation. In market-driven

economic systems, innovation provides a catalyst for economic prosperity through the accumulation of scientific knowledge,

introduction of new products and services, and improvements in the productivity levels of land, labor, and capital resources.

Bureaus Contributing to this Goal 

The TA leads civilian technology for Commerce and works with U.S. industries to promote economic competitiveness. TA is

the parent organization for NIST, NTIS, and OTP.

NIST promotes U.S. economic growth by working with industry to develop and apply technology, measurements, and

standards. 

NTIS operates a central clearinghouse of scientific, technical, and business-related information that industry can use

to advance its understanding of science, create new products, identify new market opportunities, and allocate research

and development resources, all of which serve to enhance America’s competitiveness in world markets.

OTP works with industry to promote competitiveness and advocates integrated policies for maximizing the impact

of technology on economic growth. 

The USPTO provides patent and trademark protection to inventors and entrepreneurs, and small and large businesses for their

inventions and corporate and product identification. Through the timely issuance of high-quality patent and trademark

registrations, the USPTO responds to market forces by promoting advances in technology, expanding business opportunities,

and creating jobs. In addition, the USPTO is working with its partners to create a stronger, better-coordinated and more

streamlined framework for protecting intellectual property around the world.
STRATEGIC GOAL 

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 44

STRATEGIC GOAL 2

The NTIA ITS participates in technology transfer and commercialization efforts by fostering cooperative telecommunications

research with industry where benefits can directly facilitate U.S. competitiveness and market opportunities. ITS has participated

for a number of years in Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA) with private sector organizations to

design, develop, test, and evaluate advanced telecommunication concepts. Because of the great commercial importance of

many new emerging telecommunication technologies, including PCS, wireless local area networks, digital broadcasting, audio

and visual quality standards, and intelligent transportation systems, ITS pursues technology transfer to the private sector through

CRADAs and thereby contributes to the rapid commercialization of these new technologies. 

General Goal/Objective 2.1

Develop tools and capabilities that improve the productivity, quality, dissemination, and efficiency

of research

Performance Outcomes

Provide leadership in promoting national technology policies that facilitate U.S. preeminence in key areas of science

and technology (OTP)

Provide technical leadership for the nation’s measurement and standards infrastructure (NIST)

Assure the availability and efficient transfer of measurement and standards capabilities essential to established

industries (NIST)

Catalyze, reward, and recognize quality and performance improvement practices in U.S. business and other

organizations (NIST)

Enhance public access to worldwide scientific and technical information through improved acquisition and

dissemination activities (NTIS)

Provide leadership in promoting national technology policies that facilitate U.S. preeminence in 

key areas of science and technology 

The TA’s Office of the Under Secretary (OTP, or US/OTP) serves as the focal point within the federal government for leadership

on civilian technology policy. It supports technology-based growth through a range of programs and policy development

activities, addressing both domestic and international matters by identifying key policy needs and options, strengthening the

capacities for technological innovation by U.S. industry and science and technology (S&T) community, and hastening the

transfer of new scientific and technological advances to the private sector for commercial development.

US/OTP plays an important role in developing and coordinating national technology policy, working in partnership with

industry and the S&T community and serving as an advocate for policies that leverage the benefits of new technology and

enhance the strength of the U.S. economy.
STRATEGIC GOAL 

45 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

In working to achieve the performance goal, TA’s efforts are focused on the following four general goals: 

Support and improve the American innovation system.

Advance the role technology plays in U.S. economic growth and homeland security.

Strengthen the competitive position of the nation’s technology industries.

Strengthen TA’s organization, capabilities, and resources to maximize the effectiveness of its activities and services.

For each of TA’s goals and objectives, performance metrics rely chiefly on milestone accomplishments in achieving

specific activities. 

Provide technical leadership for the nation’s measurement and standards infrastructure

Through its broad and vigorous measurement research, NIST works to anticipate the infrastructure needs of next-generation

technologies and industries in the United States. This forward-looking research not only yields improvements in NIST’s

measurement services, but also generates new knowledge, capabilities, and techniques that are transferred to industry,

universities, and government. 

Next-generation measurement needs require NIST to focus its long-term research efforts on specific interdisciplinary

technology areas where inadequate technical infrastructure is a barrier to development, commercialization, and public benefit:

health care quality assurance, information/knowledge management, and nanoscale measurements and data. NIST currently has

a broad range of competencies to draw on in each area, but emerging measurement and standards needs require a higher level

of strategic focus, internal and external collaboration, and organizational commitment. Through its strategic planning

processes, NIST has determined that these areas offer the greatest potential for increasing NIST’s long-term impact on

productivity, trade, and quality of life. 

In general, new research does not begin to generate tangible new outputs and outcomes until at least two years after funding

and thereafter. Since this goal centers on conducting research for potential future applications, NIST relies most heavily on

external peer review to evaluate technical quality, merit, and performance in the current year. These reviews are conducted by

specialized expert review panels under the management of the National Research Council (NRC), and cover the NIST

laboratories comprehensively. In addition, NIST provides two indicators of the diffusion of its research results: the volume of

technical publications, and the citation frequency for NIST-authored publications. NIST also conducts occasional

benchmarking analyses of its measurement capabilities relative to other National Metrology Institutes (NMIs). 

A major component of the Department’s mission is to promote U.S. competitiveness by strengthening and safeguarding U.S.

economic infrastructure. The economy and measurement infrastructure depends on accurate measurements and direct

traceability to international standards. Measurement equivalency among international; national, and local laboratories is critical

for the acceptance of test results for commerce, international trade, and health and safety.

Assure the availability and efficient transfer of measurement and standards capabilities essential to

established industries

NIST maintains the national measurement and standards system and provides high-accuracy primary measurement services to

anchor the nation’s industrial enterprise to international primary standards. U.S. industry requires a high quality measurement

infrastructure for product development, testing, instrumentation, process monitoring, and product performance enhancement.

STRATEGIC GOAL 2
STRATEGIC GOAL 2

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 46

NIST’s measurement services provide a common infrastructure for measurement functions in existing industries, allowing

customers to verify and gain domestic and international acceptance of their measurement results by tracing them back to the

primary national and international standards.

Measurement services for the United States originate at NIST and are disseminated through calibrations, artifacts, and reference

data, which ensure product attributes, normalize the U.S productive output, and facilitate domestic and international trade.

NIST measurement services derive directly from NIST research efforts and are transferred through measurement standards,

data, and technical services generated in the NIST Laboratories. Through these services, NIST provides its customers in

industry, government, and the scientific community in general with measurement uniformity, traceability, and equity in

domestic and international commerce.

In addition to peer review to assess technical quality and merit, NIST also tracks three output measures: Standard Reference

Materials (SRMs) sold, Web access to NIST-maintained databases, and the number of items calibrated to NIST measurement

standards. While NIST has diverse measurement and standards outputs, these three product and service categories represent

major channels through which NIST transfers its measurement and standards capabilities to established industries; the metrics

themselves indicate the level of use of each of these products or services. To measure and evaluate ultimate impacts, NIST

uses retrospective microeconomic impact studies to quantify the net present value, real benefit to cost ratio, and social rate of

return that accrue from the use of specific NIST measurement and standards products or services.

Catalyze, reward, and recognize quality and performance improvement practices in U.S. business and

other organizations

The Baldridge National Quality Program (BNQP) catalyzes quality and performance practices by providing a systems

perspective for understanding performance measurement. The BNQP provides criteria for performance excellence in three

areas: business, health care, and education. These criteria reflect validated, leading-edge management practices against which

an organization can measure itself. With their acceptance nationally and internationally as the model for performance

excellence, the criteria represent a common language for communication among organizations for sharing best practices.

The large number of applications to the BNQP and Baldrige-based state and local awards reflects high-level corporate

commitment to quality and high-performance business practices throughout the country. The BNQP rewards quality and

performance improvement practices through the BNQP. This award given annually to winners in the three aforementioned

categories has become a signature standard of excellence in these three areas and is highly regarded within those communities.

Enhance public access to worldwide scientific and technical information through improved acquisition

and dissemination activities

NTIS continues to meet the challenge of permanent preservation of and ready access to the taxpayers’ investment in research

and development through the acquisition, organization, and preservation of the titles added annually to the permanent collection.

NTIS promotes the development and application of science and technology by providing technologically advanced global

e-commerce channels for dissemination of specialized information to business, industry, government, and the public. NTIS is

implementing a new initiative to provide the public with increased access to government information. The NTIS bibliographic

database (from 1997 to the present) will be available via the Internet free of charge. NTIS will allow users to download any

item in its collection that NTIS has in electronic format for a single low fee, or at no charge if it is short. In addition, NTIS

will create links that will hyperlink customers to other agency Web sites that offer documents for free download. These recent

developments and initiatives are a result of NTIS’s new business model that maximizes utilization of the World Wide Web and

e-commerce in its information collection and dissemination activities. 
STRATEGIC GOAL 

47 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

Program Evaluation

Program evaluation for the NIST laboratories involves a combination of specific output tracking, crosscutting peer review, and

economic impact analyses. 

The NIST Laboratories are reviewed annually by the NRC Board on Assessment. The NRC provides an independent,

technically sophisticated, and extensive review of: 

The technical merit/quality of the laboratory programs relative to the state-of-the-art worldwide.

The effectiveness with which the laboratory programs are carried out and the results disseminated to their customers.

The relevance of the laboratory programs to the needs of their customers.

The ability of the laboratories’ facilities, equipment, and human resources to enable the laboratories to fulfill their

mission and meet their customers’ needs. 

The most recent NRC report is available online at: http://www7.nationalacademies.org/NIST/NIST_reports.html

NIST also receives external review from Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology (VCAT), a legislatively mandated panel

of advisors that meets quarterly to review NIST’s general policy organization, budget, and programs. In addition, the

performance of BNQP is evaluated by the Board of Overseers, a federal panel of national quality experts from business and

academia that advises the Secretary of Commerce. An important part of the board’s responsibility is to assess how well BNQP

is serving the national interest. The board reviews all aspects of BNQP, including the adequacy of the Baldrige Criteria

and processes for making Baldrige Awards, and reports its recommendations to the Secretary. Other annual external

reviews are provided to NIST by the Panel of Judges and the Foundation for the BNQP. See http://www.quality.nist.gov for

additional information. 

NIST supplements the external review process with retrospective studies that seek to estimate the long-term benefits that derive

from specific NIST products or services. Collectively, these studies indicate the types and levels of public benefits that will

likely derive from investments in NIST laboratory research.

The OIG prepared an evaluation of NTIS’s new business model. The model reflects NTIS’s commitment to maximize

dissemination of unclassified scientific, technical, engineering, and business-related information to U.S. business, industry, and

the public. The OIG recommendations were to: (1) make it clear that there are major uncertainties associated with the business

model’s estimates during future discussions and presentations of the model, (2) periodically review the projections to determine

whether they are realistic and achievable, and (3) evaluate the impact of the new business model on NTIS’s operations on a

monthly basis, and determine whether the new model is achieving the desired results or whether modifications are needed. 

US/OTP is currently considering a number of options for establishing an appropriate program evaluation process.

External Factors

Technology is a fundamental component of economic growth and rising living standards. Technological progress drives national

productivity growth, provides U.S. industries with a competitive edge in world markets, and serves as a linchpin for effective

national security. As such, it is critical that federal policies remain abreast of national and international trends and promote a

positive environment for technological and business innovation. The associated policy issues are diverse and numerous,

including technology transfer and productive partnerships among the many public and private organizations that conduct

STRATEGIC GOAL 2
STRATEGIC GOAL 

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 48

research and drive commercialization of innovative products and processes; the health of the U.S. investment in R&D (public,

private industry, venture capital); the strength of the human and physical infrastructure supporting the U.S. innovation system;

and sustaining business conditions (such as taxes, trade, intellectual property protection, and government regulations) that

facilitate technological innovation and market risk-taking. 

Outputs associated with coordination and leadership functions depend in part upon the interest and commitment of numerous

public and private sector participants operating at the state and federal levels. USTA can influence but not control

other participants.

Because of the nature of research and development, the immediate impact of many of NIST’s programs cannot be determined.

Therefore, NIST depends on outside peer reviews to provide them with recommendations on how to improve their programs.

Industry-specific business conditions and technological developments affect the level and range of demand for NIST products

and services over time. For instance, annual demand for calibrations—only one of numerous outputs of the NIST laboratories—

can fluctuate due to several factors outside NIST’s control, including changes in the calibration intervals of large customers,

changes in the average calibration interval rate in any given year, consolidation of calibration activities within large R&D

organizations, and industry consolidation (as for example, in defense-related industries). In general, NIST seeks to mitigate

the effects of external technological and market uncertainties by maintaining varied and close relationships with its customer

base. Through conferences, workshops, technology roadmaps, and many other forms of interaction with its customers, NIST

regularly evaluates and adjusts to the direction and level of demand for measurements, standards, reference data, test methods,

and related infrastructural technologies and services. 

The Baldrige Award’s ability to further promote quality awareness and performance excellence will depend in part upon

acquiring the formal authority to conduct research, develop data on best practices, and generate self-assessment primers and

other educational materials.

NTIS’s work in operating a central clearinghouse of scientific and technical information depends on revenue that comes from

(1) the sale of technical reports to business and industry, schools and universities, state and local government offices, and the

public at large; and (2) from services to federal agencies that help them communicate more effectively with their employees

and constituents.

Collection of scientific and technical information from various contributors and dissemination of that information to an even

larger audience is highly dependent on external factors, and therefore not entirely controllable. For example, the amount of

new material available is highly dependent on budgetary and program decisions made by other agencies. NTIS’s efforts to

ensure the public easy access to available scientific and technical information enhanced acquisition and dissemination activities

are implemented and monitored through performance measures. 

STRATEGIC GOAL 2
STRATEGIC GOAL 

49 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

STRATEGIC GOAL 2

General Goal/Objective 2.1: Develop tools and capabilities that improve the productivity, quality, dissemination,

and efficiency of research

Outcome Performance Measure

Provide leadership in promoting

national technology policies

that facilitate U.S. preeminence

in key areas of science and

technology 

Provide technical leadership

for the nation's measurement

and standards infrastructure

Assure the availability and 

efficient transfer of measurement and standards capabilities essential to established

industries

Catalyze, reward, and 

recognize quality and 

performance improvement

practices in U.S. business 

and other organizations

Enhance public access to

worldwide scientific and 

technical information through

improved acquisition and 

dissemination activities

Support/Improve American Innovation System

Advance role of technology in U.S. economic growth and homeland security

Strengthen competitive position of American technology industries

Strengthen US/OTP’s organization, capabilities, and resources to maximize the effectiveness of its activities and services

Qualitative assessment and review of technical quality and merit using peer review

Citation impact of NIST-authored publications

Peer-reviewed technical publications

Number of Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) sold

Number of NIST-maintained datasets downloaded

Number of items calibrated

Economic impact studies

Percentage of applicants indicating satisfaction with the relevance and importance of the feedback report

Number of Baldrige Criteria disseminated

Number of new items available (annual)

Number of information products disseminated (annual)

Customer satisfaction

Bureau

TA/NIST

TA/NTIS

TA/OTP
STRATEGIC GOAL 2

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 50

General Goal/Objective 2.2

Protect intellectual property and improve the patent and trademark system

Performance Outcomes

Create a more flexible organization through transitioning patent and trademark applications to e-government

operations, and participating in intellectual property development worldwide (USPTO)

Improve the quality of patent products and services and optimize patent processing time (USPTO)

Improve the quality of trademark products and services and optimize trademark processing time (USPTO)

The USPTO’s 21st Century Strategic Plan is a far-reaching and aggressive plan designed to transform the USPTO into an

organization that is responsible to the global economy in which it operates. After implementation of the plan, market forces

will drive the USPTO’s business model, geography and time will be irrelevant when doing business with the agency, products

and services will be tailored to customer needs, and examination will be our core expertise. The plan is centered around three

strategic themes:

Agility: Address the Twenty-first Century Economy by Becoming a More Agile Organization – USPTO will create

a flexible organization and work processes that can handle the increasing expectations of its markets, the growing

complexity and volume of its work, and the globalization that characterize the twenty-first century economy. USPTO

will work, both bilaterally and multilaterally, with its partners to create a stronger, better-coordinated, and more

streamlined framework for protecting intellectual property around the world. USPTO will transform its workplace

by radically reducing labor-intensive paper processing.

Capability: Enhance the Quality Through Workforce and Process Improvements – USPTO will make patent and

trademark quality its highest priority by emphasizing quality in every component of this strategic plan. Through the

timely issuance of high-quality patents and trademarks, USPTO will respond to market forces by promoting advances

in technology, expanding business opportunities, and creating jobs.

Productivity: Accelerate Processing Times Through Focused Examination – USPTO will control patent and

trademark pendency, reduce time to first office action, and recover our investments in people, processes,

and technology.

In support of the 21st Century Strategic Plan, the USPTO will pursue its aggressive timeliness goals to reduce patent and

trademark pendency and substantially cut the size of the work backlog. The plan will ensure 27 month average interim pendency

time in patents by 2008, while the USPTO continues to pursue the ultimate goal of 18 month total pendency time.

In trademarks, the USPTO will achieve a 12 month pendency time by 2008. These will be accomplished through a radical

redesign of the entire search and examination systems based upon multi-examination tracks; procedures that give greater choice

and flexibility to applicants; increased reliance on commercial service providers; and variable, incentive-driven fees. 
STRATEGIC GOAL 2

51 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

Some additional outcomes that USPTO anticipates as a result of its programs include:

Market forces will drive our business model.

Our products and services will be tailored to meet the needs of customers.

Independent inventors, U.S. industry, and the public will benefit from stronger, more enforceable intellectual property

rights and reduced duplication of effort worldwide.

Program Evaluation

Proofs of Concept: In the 21st Century Strategic Plan, the USPTO has committed to subjecting the initiatives proposed in the plan

to thorough evaluations. Pilot projects will be initiated and tested wherever necessary. Evaluation plans will incorporate, where

appropriate, measurable objectives; critical measures of success; baseline data; and conditions for full implementation. This will

ensure that the USPTO proposes appropriate changes to patent and trademark laws, makes changes to internal processes that

provide benefits and increased efficiency, and makes sound investment decisions.

Quality Assurance: The USPTO also is committed to enhancing quality through the consolidation of quality assurance activities.

Quality will be assured throughout the process by hiring the people who make the best patent and trademark examiners, certifying

their knowledge and competencies throughout their careers at the USPTO, and focusing on quality throughout the examination

process. In lieu of the standard end-process reviews, the USPTO will expand the review program to check the quality of the work

product during all stages of examination, from first action to issue or abandonment or registration. The results of these reviews

will be used as part of a continuous quality improvement program to identify problem areas and determine appropriate training

needs or other corrective actions. 

Accountability: Responsibility for providing performance data lies in the Patent and Trademark organizations. The USPTO

holds program managers accountable for ensuring procedures are in place regarding the accuracy of their data and that the

performance measurement source is complete and reliable.

External Factors 

Several external factors affect the degree to which USPTO meets its performance targets including the following:

Business factors that foster dramatic increases or decreases in patent and trademark application filings.

The degree to which USPTO customers—inventors, entrepreneurs, and patent and trademark attorneys—take

advantage of the USPTO’s e-government environment systems to conduct business with the office electronically.

Support for other patent offices in structuring new bilateral and multilateral initiatives. 
STRATEGIC GOAL 

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 52

General Goal/Objective 2.2: Protect intellectual property and improve the patent and trademark system

Outcome Performance Measure

Create a more flexible organization through transitioning

patent and trademark

applications to e-government

operations and participating 

in intellectual property

development worldwide

Improve the quality of patent

products and services, and

optimize patent processing

time

Improve the quality of

trademark products and

services, and optimize

trademark processing time

Patent applications filed electronically

Patent applications managed electronically

Trademark applications filed electronically

Trademark applications managed electronically

Improve patent quality by reducing the error rate

Patent-in-process reviews

Patent examiner certification

Patent examiner re-certification

Reduce average patent first action pendency (months)

Reduce average patent total pendency (monthly)

Patent efficiency

Patent productivity

Improve trademark quality by reducing the error rate

Trademark-in-process reviews

Reduce average trademark first action pendency (months)

Reduce average trademark total pendency (monthly)

Trademark efficiency

Trademark productivity

USPTO

Bureau

STRATEGIC GOAL 2
STRATEGIC GOAL 

53 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

General Goal/Objective 2.3

Advance the development of global e-commerce and enhanced telecommunications and information

services 

Performance Outcomes

Increase competition within the telecommunications sector and universal access to telecommunication services

for all Americans (NTIA)

Efficient and effective allocation of radio spectrum (NTIA)

Ensure broader availability, and support new sources, of advanced telecommunications and information services (NTIA)

The telecommunications and information sectors account for approximately 10 percent of U.S. GDP. Driven in large part by

growth of wireless services and the Internet, this figure is predicted by some experts to approach 20 percent of GDP in 2004.

One of the NTIA’s primary missions is to serve as the President’s principal policy advisor on telecommunications and

information issues and to be the Administration’s primary voice on them. NTIA fulfills this policy-setting role in a number of

ways: preparing and issuing special reports on topics that emerge over time; testifying before Congress and other organizations

that are concerned with telecommunications policy; providing the Administration’s views on actions proposed by the Federal

Communications Commission (FCC); issuing requests for public comment on specific issues; and encouraging dialogue with

the private sector through sponsorship and participation in conferences, workshops, and other forums.

Increase competition within the telecommunications sector and universal access to telecommunication

services for all Americans

As a result of NTIA’s FY 2002 spectrum summit, NTIA will examine an array of spectrum management policy issues dealing

with innovative approaches to spectrum management and the effectiveness of current processes. This examination will be

conducted in tandem with the FCC’s proceeding on spectrum management policy in which NTIA will participate on behalf of

the Administration. NTIA also will participate on behalf of the Administration in FCC and congressional proceedings on

telecommunications policies, including the development of appropriate regulatory treatment for broadband services

deployment. A number of Internet-related policy issues will require NTIA action, including Internet Corporation of Assigned

Names and Numbers (ICANN) reform and continuing Internet privatization, domain name management both domestically and

internationally, proposals to regulate Internet services and content, and the combination of Internet and telecommunications

addressing known as Telephone Number Mapping (ENUM). NTIA will pursue policies promoting international trade in

telecommunications products and services, promoting consistent international approaches to telecommunications policies, and

improving relations with Western Hemisphere neighbors. All of these activities will require substantial coordination among

NTIA’s program offices, as well as interagency coordination to develop the Administration’s positions.

Efficient and effective allocation of radio spectrum

The availability of the radio frequency spectrum is key to the development and implementation of innovative

telecommunications technologies such as ultra wideband (UWB) and third generation (3G) wireless services. The NTIA’s

spectrum management activities are therefore intertwined with its policy activities in that existing uses of spectrum by both the

private and federal sectors must be examined to determine where spectrum will be made available for new and innovative

spectrum-using services that provide benefits to all consumers. Recent examples include actions to provide spectrum for 3G

and UWB wireless services. NTIA’s activities include (1) identifying and supporting new wireless technologies that promise

STRATEGIC GOAL 2
STRATEGIC GOAL 

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 54

innovative applications for customers of the federal and private sectors; (2) providing the 56 federal agencies with the spectrum

needed to support their missions for national defense, law enforcement and security, air traffic control, national resource

management, and other public safety services; (3) developing plans and policies to use the spectrum effectively;

(4) satisfying future U.S. spectrum needs globally through participation with the 190 other countries of the International

Telecommunication Union (ITU) in establishing binding treaty agreements through world radio-communication conferences; and

(5) improving through telecommunications research and engineering the understanding of radio-wave transmission, and thereby

improving spectrum utilization and the performance of radio-communications systems. Implementation of the Administration’s

Spectrum Policy Task Force recommendations will be a high priority for NTIA in FY 2005 and following years.

Ensure broader availability, and support new sources, of advanced telecommunications and

information services

In addition to its policy-related activities, the NTIA supports innovative telecommunications and information technologies

through basic research performed at its laboratory, the ITS. ITS performs extensive basic research on quality of digital speech,

audio and video compression, and transmission characteristics. This research has the potential to improve both the performance

of telecommunications networks and the availability of digital content on the Internet. Basic research at ITS also supports U.S.

positions in international standard-setting bodies and NTIA’s development of Administration policies related to the introduction

of new technologies, such as UWB and 3G wireless services.

Program Evaluation 

NTIA management reviewed and assessed policy and program priorities in the development of FY 2004 and 2005 budgets.

The broadband summit and ENUM roundtable served to inform NTIA of state and local government views as well as those of

consumers and industry. In addition, NTIA convened a spectrum summit in FY 2002 to begin an inquiry on how to better

manage and allocate this finite resource among competing uses. The results of the FY 2002 spectrum summit led to the

development of a series of spectrum management reform priorities and objectives. This ongoing inquiry has yielded

information about new and innovative ideas for spectrum policy and management. NTIA also is leading efforts on an

Administration initiative to develop a radio spectrum policy for the twenty-first century that will better manage the nation’s

airwaves, enhance homeland and economic security, increase benefits to consumers, and ensure U.S. leadership in high-tech

innovations. A high-level interagency task force will recommend ways to stimulate more efficient use of the radio frequency

spectrum by government users. Implementation of these recommendations in FY 2005 and beyond should encourage spectrum

efficiency, provide spectrum for new technologies, and improve the effectiveness of the domestic and international spectrum

management process. To meet its current obligations and to address improvements, NTIA’s spectrum management functions

will continue to consume the largest share of agency resources.

External Factors

Consideration of telecommunications and information policy issues is affected by the activities of independent regulatory

agencies such as the FCC and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and by priorities established for NTIA by the Department,

the White House, and Congress. Rapid developments in the Internet and telecommunications industries, along with supporting

technologies, sometimes make it difficult for government institutions to coordinate timely policy responses to issues as they

arise. Regular interagency meetings on policy issues will assist in the development of timely Administration positions.

Congress from time to time has required some changes in federal use of radio frequency spectrum, which can affect availability

of frequencies to suit federal needs. The speed of development and implementation of wireless technologies will affect the

level and type of demand by federal agencies for certain frequencies. The FCC initiates numerous spectrum-related proceedings

in which NTIA participates on behalf of the Administration.

STRATEGIC GOAL 2
STRATEGIC GOAL 

55 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

STRATEGIC GOAL 2

General Goal/Objective 2.3: Advance the development of global e-commerce and enhanced 

telecommunications and information services

Outcome Performance Measure

Increase competition within

the telecommunications 

sector and universal access 

to telecommunication services

for all Americans

Efficient and effective allocation

of radio spectrum

Ensure broader availability,

and support new sources, of

advanced telecommunications

and information services

Provide the policy framework for introduction of new technologies

Policy customer survey

Timeliness of processing

Percentage of requests accomplished online

Completeness and accuracy of agency assignment requests

Customer satisfaction survey on training course

Digital broadcasting conversion

Quality of basic research as reflected in peer-reviewed publications

Level of technology transfer activities conducted with the private sector through CRADAs

Bureau

NTIA
FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 56
57

STRATEGIC

GOAL 3

Observe, protect, and manage 

the Earth’s resources to promote

environmental stewardship 
FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN
STRATEGIC GOAL 

59 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

Strategic Goal 3

Observe, protect, and manage the Earth’s resources to promote

environmental stewardship

The Department plays a significant role in the stewardship of our natural resources to ensure that the economic benefits

of those resources are available on a sustainable basis to the nation as a whole. 

Success in a global economy is linked not only to our ability to respond or react to events but to anticipate or forecast them.

As NOAA moves forward into the twenty-first century, the ability to deliver effective climate services is as important to

economies and societies as weather forecasting is today. NOAA’s improved climate predictions enable resource managers in

the climate sensitive sectors such as agriculture, water, energy, and health management to alter strategies and ensure sustainable

and efficient operations in the future. Foresight of climate-related events will reduce economic and human vulnerability, and

secure America’s competitive edge in the global marketplace.

There is also a strong linkage between the economic necessity for environmental prediction and stewardship, and scientific

necessity. Societal and economic decisions need to be strongly coupled with a comprehensive understanding of the environment.

A major part of Commerce’s mission is to ensure sustainable economic opportunities, and this requires managing the nation’s

marine and coastal resources, and predicting how changes in the Earth’s environment will affect those resources.

Bureau Contributing to this Goal

The NOAA mission touches every part of the American economy. Marine ecosystem management supports coastal

communities and businesses; climate information is increasingly important to many economic sectors, especially agriculture

and energy; weather and water information is a vital part of decision-making every day; and information services for commerce

and transportation are essential for the safety and efficiency of operations in every transport mode.

General Goal/Objective 3.1

Advance understanding and predict changes in the Earth’s environment to meet America’s economic,

social, and environmental needs

Performance Outcomes

Improve accuracy and timeliness of weather and water information (NOAA)

Increase understanding of climate variability and change (NOAA)

STRATEGIC GOAL 3
STRATEGIC GOAL 

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 60

Improve accuracy and timeliness of weather and water information 

On average, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, and other severe weather events cause $11 billion in damages per year. Weather,

including space weather, is directly linked to public safety, and about one-third of the U.S. economy (about $3 trillion) is weather

sensitive. With so much at stake, NOAA’s role in observing, forecasting, and warning of environmental events is expanding,

while economic sectors and the public are becoming increasingly sophisticated at using NOAA’s weather, air quality, and water

information to improve their operational efficiencies and their management of environmental resources and quality of life. 

NOAA is strategically positioned to conduct sound science and provide integrated observations, predictions, and advice for

decisionmakers to manage many aspects of environmental resources from fresh water to coastal ecosystems and air quality.

Bridging weather and climate time scales, NOAA will continue to collect environmental data and issue forecasts and warnings

that help protect life and property and enhance the U.S. economy.

NOAA is committed to excellent customer service. NOAA depends on partners in the private sector, academia, and government

to help disseminate critical environmental information. NOAA will work even closer with its existing partners and will develop

new partnerships to achieve greater public and industry satisfaction with the weather, air quality, and water information. NOAA

will expand its services to support evolving national needs, including space weather, freshwater and coastal ecosystems, and

air quality predictions throughout the nation. 

NOAA anticipates that it will accomplish the following outcomes:

Increased accuracy and amount of lead-time by category of storm type, e.g., hurricanes.

Increased satisfaction with and benefits from NOAA information and warning services, as determined by surveys

and analysis of emergency managers, first responders, natural resource and water managers, public health

professionals, industry, government, and the public.

NOAA will use cost-effective observation systems that meet diverse and expanding societal needs for accuracy, parameters

observed, and temporal and geographic coverage. NOAA will invest in new technologies, techniques, and weather and water

forecast modeling. NOAA will improve forecast and warning capabilities to reduce uncertainty and increase economic benefits.

NOAA will promote appropriate responses to hazardous weather- and water-related conditions, in order to enhance human

preparedness. Traditional delivery methods, the Internet, and other e-commerce approaches will be used to deliver products

that customers need for safety-related decisions, operating efficiencies, and better resource management. NOAA will also

provide information to support effective air quality decision-making.

Increase understanding of climate variability and change 

Society exists in a highly variable climate system with conditions changing over the span of seasons, years, decades, and longer.

Weather- and climate-sensitive industries, both directly and indirectly, account for about one-third of the nation’s GDP, or $3 trillion.

Seasonal and interannual variations in climate, like El Niño, led to economic impacts on the order of $25 billion for 1997-98,

with property losses of over $2.5 billion and crop losses approaching $2 billion. Given such stresses as population growth,

drought, increasing demand for fresh water, and emerging infectious diseases, it is essential for NOAA to provide reliable

observations, forecasts, and assessments of climate, water, and ecosystems to enhance decisionmakers’ ability to minimize

climate risks. This information will support decisions regarding community planning, public policy, business management,

homeland security, natural resource and water planning, and public health preparedness. In the U.S. agricultural sector alone,

better forecasts can be worth over $300 million in avoided losses annually.

STRATEGIC GOAL 3
STRATEGIC GOAL 

61 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

To enable society to better respond to changing climate conditions, NOAA, working with national and international partners,

will employ an end-to-end system comprised of integrated observations of key atmospheric, oceanic, and terrestrial variables;

a scientific understanding of past climate variations and present atmospheric, oceanic, and land-surface processes that influence

climate; application of this improved understanding to create more reliable climate predictions on all time scales; and service

delivery methods that continuously assess and respond to user needs with the most reliable information possible.

These activities will accelerate the development of a structure and process for improving the relevance of climate science to

assist decisionmakers in their development of national, regional, and sectoral adaptation responses (actions to reduce

vulnerability, seize opportunities, and enhance resilience) to variability and long-term changes in the climate, particularly for

industry, natural resource and water managers, community planners, and public health professionals.

NOAA anticipates that it will accomplish the following outcomes:

Increased use and effectiveness of climate observations to improve long-range climate, weather, and water predictions.

Increased use and effectiveness of climate information for decisionmakers and managers (e.g., for industry, natural

resource and water managers, community planners, and public health professionals).

Increased use of the knowledge of how climate variability and change affect commerce.

NOAA will invest in needed climate quality observations and encourage other national and international investments to provide

a comprehensive observing system in support of climate assessments and forecasts. NOAA will work with national and

international partners to increase understanding of the dynamics and impacts of coupled atmosphere/ocean/land systems

through research on climate variability and change. NOAA will improve its intraseasonal and interannual climate forecasts to

enable regional and national managers to plan better for the impacts of climate variability and change and will provide improved

regional, national, and international assessments and projections to support policy decisions with objective information. NOAA

will work with users of climate information to enable and increase the application of climate information for health and safety;

environmental, economic, and community planning, especially for freshwater supply; water quality; and coastal impacts.

Program Evaluation 

NOAA’s vision for FY 2008 is to provide significantly improved weather and water forecast products and services that enhance

public safety and the economic productivity of the United States. While it is difficult to see the improvements on an annual

basis because of the scientific nature and seasonal variations of weather events, historical trends have shown that NOAA

continues to improve the accuracy and advance warning lead-time of severe weather hazards.

Program evaluations at NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS) field offices are conducted annually. Quality control

procedures are followed to ensure the highest reliability of gathered data and weather products. The National Academy of

Sciences (NAS) is also involved in program analysis and evaluation processes on a national level.

NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) conducts periodic reviews of the activities of its Environmental

Research Laboratories (ERL). NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) holds

management performance reviews several times a year. NWS conducts reviews of the National Centers for Environmental

Prediction (NCEP). Programs are also evaluated by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and NRC. NOAA holds annual

constituent workshops at which NOAA’s seasonal climate forecast efforts are discussed with the community of climate and

weather forecast users, and input is solicited to shape future efforts. 

STRATEGIC GOAL 3
STRATEGIC GOAL 3

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 62

NOAA’s programs are routinely evaluated by a variety of outside reviewers. The NOAA Science Advisory Board (SAB), made

up completely of private sector, university, and federal agency scientists, provides input on climate and air quality research.

NOAA’s Office of Global Programs (OGP), funded in OAR’s Climate and Global Change research line item, receives review

from international science agencies, universities, and private sector scientists, as well as NRC and NSF. The NOAA Research

Laboratories are reviewed on a regular basis. The review is conducted by the NOAA SAB, and is normally performed every

three to five years. The Sea Grant Colleges are visited at least every two years by a review panel.

External Factors

A major failure of Earth observing and computing infrastructure would impair NOAA’s ability to produce seasonal to

interannual forecasts. NOAA has been looking for backup outside the organization. For example, the Department of the Navy

provides backup to the NCEP mainframe computer. NOAA is seeking a backup to current observing and computing

infrastructure (because a major failure to these systems would impair NOAA’s ability to produce seasonal to interannual

forecasts). NWS is requesting funding in the FY 2004 President’s Budget for a Weather and Climate Supercomputing Backup.

In the past, NWS had looked into a Navy backup and found that it would not be as cost-effective.

Although the performance for these goals may improve, the impact on society may not be obvious because of factors beyond

NOAA’s control. For example, hurricane warnings may become more accurate, but because of the increase in population along

the coastlines, the deaths, injuries, and/or damage estimates may increase. 

NOAA relies on its partners in the media, private sector, and the state and local emergency management community to

disseminate weather warnings. The purpose for disseminating the information is to ensure that people receive vital information

regarding impending weather occurrences, i.e., tornadoes, hurricanes, etc., so that people can take necessary precautions.

The sooner people get the message, the more time they have to prepare.

The science of climate change crosses generations and has progressed as a result of evolving technology. NOAA’s ability to

measure performance is contingent upon many external factors, including the advancement of climate change itself. While the

time frame of these processes spans decades and even centuries, the reporting periods extend over years.

A number of factors unique to the atmospheric sciences must be considered when reviewing the performance measures for this

goal. The primary factor to consider is the natural variation of this goal related to annual fluctuations in meteorological

conditions. Another factor concerns the damage to critical equipment (for example, supercomputer fire and satellite outages)

that can affect daily operations for extended periods, even though numerous safety measures and backup procedures are in place.
STRATEGIC GOAL 3 

63 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

General Goal/Objective 3.1: Advance understanding and predict changes in the Earth’s environment to meet

America’s economic, social, and environmental needs

Improve accuracy and 

timeliness of weather and 

water information

Increase understanding of 

climate variability and change

Lead time (minutes), accuracy (%), and false alarm rate (FAR,%) for severe weather warnings for tornadoes

Lead time (minutes) and accuracy (%) for severe weather warnings for flash floods

Hurricane forecast track error (48-hour)

Accuracy (%) of 1-day threat score forecast for precipitation 

Lead time (hours) and accuracy (%) for winter storm warnings

Cumulative percentage of U.S. shoreline and inland areas that have improved ability to reduce coastal hazard impacts

U.S. temperature forecasts

New climate observations introduced

Assess and model carbon sources throughout the United States

Assess and model carbon sources and sinks globally

Determine actual long-term changes in temperature and precipitation throughout the United States

Bureau Outcome Performance Measure

NOAA
STRATEGIC GOAL 3 

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 64

General Goal/Objective 3.2

Enhance the conservation and management of coastal and marine resources to meet America’s

economic, social, and environmental needs

Performance Outcomes

Improve protection, restoration, and management of coastal and ocean resources through ecosystem-based

management (NOAA)

Support the nation’s commerce with information for safe, efficient, and environmentally sound transportation

(NOAA)

Improve protection, restoration, and management of coastal and ocean resources through ecosystembased management

Coastal areas are among the most developed in the nation, with over half of our population residing within less than one-fifth

of the land area in the contiguous United States. Coastal counties are growing three times faster than counties elsewhere,

adding more than 3,600 people a day to their populations. Coastal and marine waters support over 28 million jobs, generate

over $54 billion in goods and services a year, and provide a tourism destination for 180 million Americans a year. The value

added to the national economy by the commercial fishing industry is over $28 billion annually, and about 18 million Americans

engage in marine recreational fishing every year. Within this context, NOAA works with its partners to achieve a balance

between the use and protection of these resources to ensure their sustainability, health, and vitality for the benefit of this and

future generations and their optimal contribution to the nation’s economy and society. 

NOAA has identified three strategic objectives to further delineate what it does related to protecting, restoring, and managing

the coastal and ocean resources goal:

Protect and restore ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources. 

Recover protected species. 

Rebuild and maintain sustainable fisheries. 

NOAA recognizes that these three objectives are scientifically, socially, and economically interdependent, and is moving toward

managing living marine and other ocean and coastal resources using a truly integrated ecosystem management approach. Until

ecosystem approaches are adopted, NOAA will continue to manage on a more narrowly focused species- and site-specific basis.

However, NOAA will be improving the science, management, and regulatory processes to implement a more comprehensive

ecosystem approach that will allow it to make better management decisions for the nation’s ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes

resources. In a first move toward this integrated approach, the strategies and measures under Objective 1 also apply to protected

resources and fishery management that have been placed under Objectives 2 and 3. Increasingly, NOAA will turn to

international cooperation to protect large marine ecosystems and areas beyond its national jurisdiction. 

In the short term, NOAA will apply this new focus by giving increased priority to: habitat protection and restoration for all

species; interactions of target species management decisions with nontarget species and ecosystem effects; and partnerships

with international organizations, foreign governments, federal agencies, state and local governments, academia, and

nongovernmental organizations in applying ecosystem approaches to coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes resource management.

3

2

1
STRATEGIC GOAL 3

65 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

In the longer term, NOAA will strive to manage multiple aspects of sustainable ecosystems, including fisheries resources,

threatened and endangered species, marine mammals, biodiversity, important habitats that support those resources, and the

impacts of ecosystem-based management decisions on the economy and communities. Ecosystem management will also

require improved understanding of the pressures—both natural and human-induced—that change ecosystems. 

Regarding Objective 1, Protect and Restore Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Resources, NOAA and its partners will monitor

and observe aspects of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes areas and associated communities to provide basic information on

habitats, resources, human activities, and uses that may impact coastal ecosystems. NOAA will characterize ocean, coastal,

and Great Lakes resources and conduct research to understand and describe the linkages among the resource components and

processes and human impacts on them, and will develop new tools and techniques to facilitate sound management decisions.

NOAA will develop and implement models and integrate data sets to assess current ecosystems and predict their future state

and the causes for ecological changes. NOAA will ensure that decisionmakers are well informed about safe and wise uses of

ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources, and about factors, especially hazards, that affect environmental health and safety.

NOAA will also endeavor to provide the state-of-the-art tools and techniques needed for effective resource management. NOAA

will develop and implement appropriate plans, regulations, permits, and enforcement activities for the protection, restoration,

and wise use of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources.

Regarding Objective 2, Recover Protected Species, NOAA will monitor and observe all aspects of protected resources to provide

basic information on those resources, their habitats, and human activities that affect them. NOAA will conduct research to

understand and describe the ecological and biological population aspects of protected species as a basis for sound management

decisions. NOAA will develop and implement models and integrated data sets to assess current protected species populations

and predict their future abundance. NOAA will ensure that decisionmakers and the public are well informed about the condition

and adverse effects of human interactions with protected species. NOAA will also endeavor to provide the state-of-the-art tools

and techniques needed for effective resource management. NOAA will develop and implement appropriate plans, regulations,

permits, and enforcement activities for the conservation and restoration of protected resources. 

Regarding Objective 3, Rebuild and Maintain Sustainable Fisheries, NOAA will monitor and observe all aspects of fish species

to provide basic information on fish species, their habitats, and the human activities that affect them. NOAA will conduct

research to understand and describe the ecological and biological aspects of fish species and social and economic impacts as

a basis for sound management decisions. NOAA will develop and implement models and integrated data sets to assess fish

species populations and predict their future abundance. NOAA will ensure that decisionmakers are well informed about the

health of fish species and impacts of fishing or other activities on fish species. NOAA will also endeavor to provide the stateof-the-art tools and techniques needed for effective resource management. NOAA will develop and implement appropriate

plans, regulations, permits, and enforcement activities for the conservation, rebuilding, and wise use of fish species.

NOAA anticipates that it will accomplish the following outcomes:

Increased number of coastal and marine ecosystems maintained at a healthy and sustainable level

Increased social and economic value of the marine environment and resources (e.g., seafood, recreation, and tourism)

Increased number of acres and stream-miles restored for coastal and ocean species

Increased number of protected species in a stable condition or an upward trend

Increased number of managed species that are at optimum levels

Improved ecological conditions in coastal and ocean protected areas 
STRATEGIC GOAL 3

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 66

Support the nation’s commerce with information for safe, efficient, and environmentally sound

transportation 

Safe and efficient transportation systems are crucial economic lifelines for the nation. NOAA’s information products and

services are essential to the safe and efficient transport of goods and people at sea, in the air, and on land and waterways. More

accurate and timely warnings associated with severe weather threats, marine navigation products and services, and improved

positioning data can better support the growing commerce on our road, rail, and waterways through improvements in

transportation safety and “just-in-time” efficiencies. For example, the U.S. Marine Transportation System (MTS) ships over

95 percent of the tonnage and more than 20 percent by value of U.S. foreign trade through America’s ports, including 48 percent

of the oil needed to meet U.S. energy demands. Waterborne cargo alone contributes more than $740 billion to the U.S. GDP

and creates employment for over 13 million citizens. Every year, 134 million passengers are ferried to work and other

destinations on U.S. waterways, along with five million cruise ship passengers. Better aviation weather information could

significantly reduce the $4 billion that is lost through economic inefficiencies as a result of weather-related air traffic delays.

Improved surface forecasts and specific user warnings would likely reduce the 7,000 weather-related fatalities and 800,000

injuries annually from vehicle crashes. 

As U.S. dependence on surface and air transportation grows over the next 20 years with significant increases in the volume of

land transportation and the projected doubling of maritime trade, better navigation and weather information will be critical to

protect lives, cargo, and the environment. NOAA is committed to improve the accuracy of its marine forecasts, provide

advanced electronic navigational charts and real-time oceanographic information, and maintain a precise positioning network

GPS that mariners need to navigate with confidence. Consistent, accurate, and timely information derived from NOAA’s

positioning services is critical for air and surface activities such as aircraft landings, and to improve the safety and efficiency

of road and railroad delivery.

NOAA partners in the academic, government, and private sectors are essential to realize this goal. Improved NOAA information

will enable the private weather sector to provide better weather-related forecasts and information to their clients helping to

realize improved efficiencies. NOAA will work with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the private sector to reduce

the impacts of weather on aviation without compromising safety through better forecasts. Reducing the risk of marine accidents

and oil spills, better search and rescue capabilities, and other efficiencies that can be derived from improved navigation and

coastal and ocean information and services could be worth over $300 million annually around the nation’s coasts. NOAA will work

with port and coastal communities, and with federal and state partners, to ensure that port operations and development proceed

efficiently and in an environmentally sound manner. On land, improvements in weather information will be used more effectively

to reduce the $42 billion annual economic loss and the 500 million vehicle-hour delays attributed to weather-related crashes.

NOAA anticipates that it will accomplish the following outcomes:

Increased use and effectiveness of environmental information for planning for marine, air, and surface transportation

systems

Reduced number of and harm from navigation-related accidents due to grounding and allisions (hitting fixed objects)

Increased number of ports where the environmental consequences of port development and operations are minimized

Increased number of ports with an improved vessel cargo carriage capacity due to use of NOAA’s marine navigation

information products and services

Increased safety and productivity of transportation systems

Expanded advanced technology monitoring and observation 
STRATEGIC GOAL 3 

67 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

NOAA will expand its advanced technology monitoring and observation systems to provide accurate, up-to-date environmental

data, such as weather and oceanographic observations, hydrographic surveys, and precise position coordinates. NOAA will

develop and apply new technologies, techniques, and models. NOAA will develop and implement sophisticated assessment

and prediction capabilities to support decisions on aviation, marine, and surface navigation efficiencies, coastal resource

management, and transportation system management, operations, and planning. NOAA will work at the national and regional

levels and will use advanced delivery systems, such as the Internet and other e-commerce approaches, to provide customers

with the products and services they need for safety-related decisions, operating efficiencies, better management of coastal

resources, and improved transportation system management and planning.

Program Evaluation

Virtually every aspect of NOAA’s fisheries science and coastal programs is peer-reviewed, either internally or outside the

agency. For example, reviews are conducted by NAS or NSF. NOAA also relies on extensive informal networks of university

partnerships and laboratories throughout the United States for conducting work and reviews. Moreover, reviews often occur

by opposing parties’ scientists in the court system when fisheries management decisions are litigated.

NOAA’s navigation services program has incorporated numerous recommendations made by independent analyses to improve

operations and products. NRC Marine Board studies from 1992 to 1996 and congressional reviews concurrent with the

Hydrographic Services Improvement Acts of 1998 and 2002 provided opportunities to evaluate NOAA’s capabilities for

acquisition and dissemination of hydrographic data, standards, and formats development for hydrographic services, contracts

for the acquisition of hydrographic data, and digital production techniques. NOAA implemented study recommendations on

such areas as reducing the survey backlog, implementing new digital production techniques, and delivering new electronic chart

products to mariners. NOAA now also contracts out over 50 percent of its annual critical area hydrographic survey requirements

while maintaining federal competence and expertise with existing and developing surveying technologies.

In 1998, Congress authorized the Height Modernization study to evaluate the technical, financial, legal, and economic aspects

of modernizing the national height system with GPS. The study demonstrated the significant benefits to the United States in

terms of dollars and lives saved associated with GPS technology, and it led to current development of the vertical component

of the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS). In 1999, NOAA completed an assessment of its tidal currents program to

develop guidelines for future current surveys to update U.S. reference stations for the Tidal Current Tables. Finally, the

September 1999 Report to Congress that assessed the U.S. MTS further articulated the need for coordinated federal leadership

to achieve the MTS vision of becoming the world’s most technologically advanced, safe, efficient, globally competitive, and

environmentally responsible system for moving goods and people. NOAA’s navigation safety support functions underwent

substantial review to identify opportunities for greater integration among federal agencies. NOAA continues its lead role on

the Interagency Committee for the MTS to support this integration effort.

External Factors

Various external factors may affect NOAA’s ability to reach its targets. These factors include the impact of climate, biological,

and other natural conditions, such as El Niño, on its efforts to recover protected species and maintain the status of healthy

species. In addition, the effect of national and/or local economic conditions may have an impact.

Changes in climate, biological, and other natural conditions may affect NOAA’s ability to carry out activities to sustain healthy

coasts. In addition, many of these coastal stewardship activities depend on contributions from multiple partners, particularly

states, territories, and other federal agencies. The failure of one or more of these partners to fulfill their cooperative

contributions could have very serious consequences on the overall effort to sustain healthy coasts.
STRATEGIC GOAL 3

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 68

Weather has a significant impact on the promotion of safe navigation activities. Both in-house and contract hydrographic survey

schedules can be affected by adverse weather conditions (storms, winds, and high seas) and equipment failure, as can aerial

photography flights scheduled for shoreline photogrammetry. Storm damage frequently renders water-level stations inoperable,

affecting surveying capabilities and real-time observations of water levels and currents so critical to safe navigation. Natural

disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes can elevate the critical priority of an area because of shoreline changes or

obstruction accumulation; man-made impacts such as shifts in shipping patterns, newly regulated shipping lanes, port

expansions, or wrecks will also increase NOAA’s designated critical areas. NOAA also receives requests to survey areas not

identified as critical. For example, ship groundings frequently prompt requests from the U.S. Coast Guard and others to survey

noncritical areas, diverting efforts away from the survey schedule. Finally, in addition to mission activities, NOAA ships and

aircraft provide immediate response capabilities for unpredictable events such as recovery and search efforts after the TWA

Flight 800 and EgyptAir Flight 990 crashes; damage assessments after major oil spills such as the Exxon Valdez, the Persian

Gulf War, and the New Carissa; and severe hurricanes.
STRATEGIC GOAL 3 

69 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

General Goal/Objective 3.2: Enhance the conservation and management of coastal and marine resources to

meet America’s economic, social, and environmental needs

Outcome Performance Measure

Improve protection, restoration,

and management of coastal 

and ocean resources through

ecosystem-based management

Support the nation’s commerce

with information for safe, 

efficient, and environmentally

sound transportation

Number of overfished major stocks of fish

Number of major stocks with an “unknown” stock status

Percentage of plans to rebuild overfished major stocks to sustainable levels

Increase in number of threatened species with lower risk of extinction

Number of commercial fisheries that have insignificant marine mammal mortality

Increase in number of endangered species with lower risk of extinction

Number of habitat acres restored (cumulative)

Reduce the Hydrographic Survey backlog within navigationally significant areas (square nautical miles surveyed per year)

Percentage of National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) completed (Cumulative %)

Accuracy (%) and FAR of forecasts of ceiling and visibility (3 miles/1000 ft.) (aviation forecasts)

Accuracy (%) and FAR of forecasts for winds and waves (marine forecasts) wind speed and wave height

Bureau

NOAA
FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 70
71

MANAGEMENT

INTEGRATION GOAL

Achieve organizational and 

management excellence 
FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN
STRATEGIC GOAL 

73 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

MANAGEMENT INTEGRATION GOAL 

Management Integration Goal 

Achieve organizational and management excellence

The Department has established a management integration goal, applicable with equal importance to all bureaus.

This goal is in line with the driving trend toward more effective organizational management in both public and private settings. 

Offices Contributing to this Goal 

DM provides policy direction, oversight, and administrative services to bureaus within Commerce. Bureau managers work

collaboratively with DM to ensure that administrative functions, such as budgeting and financial management, information

technology, procurement and financial assistance, and human resources management, operate efficiently and uniformly across

organization lines. Success in these efforts enables our bureaus to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency with which

programmatic activities are carried out and service is provided to the American public.

The OIG continues to work closely with the Department and bureaus in many of the critical areas identified in this

strategic plan.

Performance Outcomes

Ensure effective resource stewardship in support of the Department’s programs (DM)

Ensure retention of highly qualified staff in mission-critical positions (DM)

Acquire and manage the technology resources to support program goals (DM)

Promote improvements to Commerce programs and operations by identifying and completing work that (1) promotes

integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness; and (2) prevents and detects fraud, waste, and abuse (OIG)

Ensure effective resource stewardship in support of the Department’s programs

The Department must have the capacity to do business as successfully as possible with the public and its partner agencies, both

as a $5 billion, worldwide enterprise and as an integrated set of individual programs. This requires that it identify, adopt, and

maintain the business practices needed to successfully operate any such organization; use its resources wisely; and effectively

implement the laws that affect it. Because this performance goal inherently encompasses a wide range of administrative and

operational tasks, the measures used to assess DM’s progress are by necessity highly diverse. DM is continuing efforts begun

in FY 2003 to ensure that these measures are meaningful and reflect particularly significant activities. 
STRATEGIC GOAL 

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 74

Ensure retention of highly qualified staff in mission-critical positions

There is no issue more critical to the Department’s continued effective functioning than that of current and projected turnover

in mission-critical positions, and the domino effect it precipitates. Separation projections are high among economists, fish

biologists, mathematicians, statisticians, meteorologists, and engineers. By 2007, 71 percent of the Department’s existing

Senior Executive Service corps and 39 percent of the senior staff in grades 13 through 15 will become eligible for retirement.

Departures from the Department due to retirement only represent approximately 21 percent of overall turnover. In the prior

fiscal year, transfers to other federal agencies represented approximately 23 percent of separations and resignations comprised

another 49 percent. These conditions could produce an unprecedented drain on its institutional memory, on its capacity to

provide mature leadership to the next generation of employees, and, thus, on its capacity to serve the public. 

Acquire and manage the technology resources to support program goals 

As American society becomes increasingly oriented toward using electronic means of communication and information

dissemination, federal agencies must ensure that they continue to be as responsive as possible to the needs of the public, private

sector, other levels of government, and other federal agencies. This requires that DM develops and implements new approaches

to electronic communication and that its existing systems are able to perform at the highest levels.

Promote improvements to Commerce programs and operations by identifying and completing work that

(1) promotes integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness; and (2) prevents and detects fraud, waste, and abuse

Commerce’s diverse mission and critical programs and operations are administered in a dynamic environment—one that is

greatly influenced by ever-changing conditions. As the Department works to accomplish its mission, the OIG provides a unique,

independent voice to the Secretary and other senior Commerce managers, as well as Congress, in keeping with its mandate to

promote integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness and prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse in Department programs and

operations. This work is primarily accomplished through audits, inspections, evaluations, and investigations and a variety of

activities geared toward averting problems. Moreover, OIG strives to ensure that it:

Performs high quality, timely work. 

Concentrates its efforts on the Department’s most critical programs, operations, challenges, and vulnerabilities.

Achieves results that allow government funds to be put to better use and address criminal, civil, and other wrongdoing.

Program Evaluation

The Department uses reviews and reports generated by the OIG, OMB, GAO, other congressional organizations, governmentwide task forces, and other objective sources to evaluate all activities of the Department. For example, DM works closely with

OMB on implementing the five government-wide management initiatives established in the President’s Management Agenda

and is rated quarterly on its success in implementing them. In addition, many of the laws pertaining to these activities have

separate reporting requirements, which highlight both strengths and weaknesses of the Department’s administrative functions.

The Department uses the results of these efforts as needed to assess achievement of performance targets.

MANAGEMENT INTEGRATION GOAL 
STRATEGIC GOAL 

75 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

In addition, many of the laws pertaining to IT management have separate reporting requirements, which highlight both strengths

and weaknesses of the Department’s IT programs. The Department uses the results of these efforts as needed to assess

achievement of performance targets. Although the operating units assess and report their progress on each of the measures,

the Department’s Office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) is requiring that operating units develop corrective action

plans (CAPs) to achieve performance targets, to provide regular reports on their progress, and to undergo independent reviews

to verify accuracy of reporting. With CIOs established and in place at all the operating units, the structure will be in place to

strengthen the management of IT at all levels.

External Factors 

Many external factors affect Commerce’s ability to achieve these goals. 

The Department’s customers are diverse and often have a broad array of needs and expectations that cannot be

adequately addressed by a universal approach. 

The Department’s programs face continually increasing demands for greater productivity and increased services

against a backdrop of limited federal funds. Program operations are adjusted as needed to meet these evolving needs.

The Department’s programs must be managed from within aging physical facilities (including its headquarters

building and other facilities across the nation), which require modernization in order to meet technical and scientific

needs and to ensure the safety of staff, information, and customers. 

The growing technological orientation of its work means DM is increasing its engagement in a highly competitive

marketplace for individuals with skills in science, technology, and related fields. 

The increasing diversity in the U.S. workforce requires DM to recruit, train, and retain workers in new ways. 

The public sector’s perception of the federal government is that it is unattractive and lacks the flexibility sought by

new professionals. 

The rapidly changing IT environment, including changes in hardware, software, applications, Internet use, and the

user community, all impact the DM’s IT function. The activities that are described above will assist the Department

in responding to these challenges by planning how it will invest IT funds, ensuring that it has a cohesive and

well-constructed IT architecture, and safeguarding the integrity and availability of the Department’s IT systems.

MANAGEMENT INTEGRATION GOAL 
MANAGEMENT INTEGRATION GOAL 

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 76

Management Integration Goal: Achieve Organizational and Management Excellence

Outcome Performance Measure

Ensure effective resource 

stewardship in support of the

Department’s programs

Ensure retention of highly 

qualified staff in mission-critical

positions

Acquire and manage the 

technology resources to 

support program goals

Promote improvements to

Commerce programs and 

operations by identifying 

and completing work that 

(1) promotes integrity, efficiency,

and effectiveness; and 

(2) prevents and detects fraud,

waste, and abuse

Clean audit opinion on Department consolidated financial statements

Deploy Commerce-wide integrated financial management system

Consolidate Commerce-wide integrated financial system platforms

Implement competitive sourcing

Funds obligated through performance-based contracting

Small purchases made using credit cards

Use of online procurement to publish synopses and solicitations for proposals to contract with the Department

Increase percentage of total obligations awarded as contracts to small businesses

Reduce energy consumption per square foot from 1985 baseline

Ensure a secure workplace for all Department of Commerce employees

Ensure a safe workplace for all Department of Commerce employees

Strategic competencies—ensure competency in leadership and in mission-critical occupations

Strategic competencies—ensure comprehensive training and development strategies

Strategic competencies—ensure diverse candidate recruitment

Efficiency and effectiveness of hiring systems using the Commerce Opportunities Online (COOL) system

Increase the alignment of performance management with mission accomplishment

Implement a telecommuting program

Transactions converted to electronic format

IT planning and investment review program maturity (on a scale of 0-5)

IT architecture program maturity (on a scale of 0-5)

IT security program maturity (on a scale of 0-5)

Percentage of IT system security plans completed

Percentage of IT system security plans certified and accredited

Percentage of unsuccessful intrusion attempts

Percentage of Commerce’s management challenges, stakeholder concerns, and other critical issues addressed by OIG work

products

Percentage of OIG recommendations accepted by departmental and bureau management

Dollar value of financial benefits identified by OIG

Percentage of criminal and civil matters that are accepted for prosecution

Bureau

DM

OIG
77

OVERARCHING KE Y

FACTORS AFFECTING

ACHIEVEMENT OF THE

DE PA RT M E N T’S GOALS
FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN
STRATEGIC GOAL 

79 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

Overarching Key Factors Affecting Achievement

of the Department’s Goals

The Department’s wide range of activities means that a number of factors can impact our ability to achieve our goals.

We see the following factors having significant impact over the next five years:

National and International Economic Conditions including regional economic conditions, changes in the business

climate, upswings and downturns in the national and international economy, strength of the U.S. dollar, and the level

of expansion of U.S. and foreign markets.

U.S. and International Foreign Policy including both U.S. and other nations’ foreign trade policy, diplomatic relations

between nations, and even wars such as that against terrorism or rogue nations.

Natural Environment including short and long-term weather conditions and patterns, and monitoring a variety of

atmospheric phenomena.

U.S. Demographic Trends including changes in urbanization, concentrations of the population along coastlines, the

number and location of economically distressed communities, and the changing racial and ethnic makeup of

our population.

Infrastructure including Commerce buildings and other infrastructure (ships, satellites, etc.) as well as the

infrastructure of the nation such as highways and bridges, all of which can have a significant impact on our economy.

Technological Advances including number of patents filed; the increase or decrease in research and development

investments, particularly high-risk investments; advanced computer modeling; and further enhancement of

telecommunications technologies.

Human Capital including the make-up of all Department staff, with a particular emphasis in the expected and

required shift in skills as a large number of our staff approach retirement and demands continue for greater

productivity.

Other Agencies including federal, state, local, and private organizations that provide information to Commerce and

share Commerce information with constituents. They also include agencies that provide Commerce with funds and

assistance in conducting programs that help to achieve our goals.

OVERARCHING KEY FACTORS 
80 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN
81

CROSSCUTTING

PROGRAMS
FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN
STRATEGIC GOAL 

83 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

Crosscutting Programs

The Department has numerous crosscutting programs involving multiple bureaus; other federal, state and local agencies;

foreign governments; and private enterprise. Federal programs dealing with economic and technology development, the natural

environment, international trade, and demographic and economic statistics play a major role in advancing the welfare of all

Americans. Commerce continues to work with other government agencies in furthering efforts in these areas for the American

public. Examples of crosscutting programs include the following: 

Commerce leads and the Secretary chairs the federal government’s TPCC, which consists of at least 20 agencies, and

seeks to establish a government-wide strategy for export promotion activities.

EDA works with NOAA on disaster mitigation, protection of natural resources, development of eco-industrial parks;

with NIST on technology deployment and assistance; with NTIA on upgrading telecommunications infrastructure;

and with MBDA on minority business development and entrepreneurship.

EDA builds partnerships with federal, state, and local entities including: the Federal Emergency Management

Agency (FEMA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), DOE, the Department of Labor (DOL), the

Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Housing and Urban

Development (HUD), the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and the Denali Commission.

BEA and Census cooperatively examine and assess joint and individual statistical problems.

BEA relies on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as data sources. Census

provides BLS with monthly unemployment data. BEA also works closely with other agencies producing statistics

including USDA, DOD, the Department of Education (ED), DOE, the Department of Health and Human Services

(HHS), DOT, and the Department of the Treasury (Treasury).

BEA works with ITA to develop the Travel and Tourism Satellite Accounts, which provides a detailed picture of the

travel and tourism industries and their role in the U.S. economy.

Census performs work under reimbursable agreements for USDA, DOL, HHS, HUD, DOE, and DOJ; the Bureau

of Justice Statistics (BJS), the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Bureau of Transportation

Statistics (BTS), FRB, EPA, and the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHCRQ).

Within Commerce, Census works with ITA to produce customized statistics on export services. Census works with

NOAA on issues related to the GPS and geodetic control. Census also receives information from BEA, ITA, USPTO,

and NOAA, other federal agencies, and private organizations in compiling the Statistical Abstract of the United States

and the County and City Data Book.

Census works with state governments to make data available locally to the public through a variety of channels.

Census also works with foreign governments through the International Programs Center to assist in the use

of statistics.

CROSSCUTTING PROGRAMS 
STRATEGIC GOAL 

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 84

ITA works closely with the Office of General Counsel (OGC) on guidance for interpreting existing international trade

agreements and defining the rights of U.S. firms and workers. ITA works with NIST on international standards and

with NOAA on trade initiatives involving environmental programs. ITA works with MBDA in identifying potential

exporters who may need assistance.

ITA also works with numerous other federal agencies involving trade issues such as: the Small Business

Administration (SBA), DOE, DOT, ED, DOD, DOS, USDA, and the Agency for International Development (USAID).

ITA works with USTR to develop strategies for solving market access disputes and to participate in major trade

negotiations. ITA also works with Customs, DOS, and DOJ involving AD/CVD issues and litigation.

BIS works with USFCS to send attachés overseas to conduct end-use checks and works with host governments

on export control cooperation. BIS also works with Census, DOJ, DOS, Customs, Federal Bureau of

Investigations (FBI), U.S. Postal Service (USPS), and the intelligence community on data sharing and other law

enforcement matters.

BIS works with DOS, DOD, DOE, Treasury, DOJ, and the intelligence community to develop and implement U.S.

export control policy and programs, works with U.S. industry to implement the treaty requirements of the CWC, and

participates in multilateral regimes.

MBDA works with NIST and NOAA to include minority-owned businesses in programs involving new and emerging

technology. MBDA works with Census to expand the survey on minority-owned businesses. MBDA has collaborated

with EDA to establish Business Development Centers where EDA has funded infrastructure projects.

MBDA has initiated intergovernmental partnerships with SBA, Export-Import Bank, and USAID. MBDA has

collaborated with the National Economic Council (NEC), Treasury, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal

Reserve Bank, and HUD on the New Markets Program and the Department Capital Access Task Force.

With the support of EDA, MBDA, and NIST, along with enlisting the support of USDA, SBA, and DOL, NOAA will

play a key role in mitigating the impact of critical resource conservation decisions in the transition to economically

sustainable communities.

NOAA works closely with EDA and NIST on the Federal Natural Disaster Initiative. NOAA also works closely with

FEMA, the Corps of Engineers (COE), the Bureau of Reclamation, DOD, and state and local governments to complement

their meteorological services. NOAA works with the Coast Guard concerning marine forecasts, the FAA regarding

aviation forecasts, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) concerning launch forecasts. 

In partnership with TA, NTIA, and other civil agencies, NOAA participates on the Interagency GPS Executive Board,

which with DOD, manages the GPS satellite program.

NOAA works with a variety of partners to integrate coastal science, assessment, monitoring, education, and

management activities. NOAA has developed partnerships with Maine, Washington, Oregon, and California to

promote the recovery of salmon and steelhead.

Through a unique partnership with the private sector, NOAA provides weather and climate services to the public and

industry. NOAA also works with other federal, state, and local agencies; academia; foreign government agencies;

and international organizations on climate forecasts.

OTP works with NIST, NOAA, and NTIA on technology transfer issues; USPTO on intellectual property matters;

NTIA on telecommunications issues; BIS on technology export issues; and ITA on international technology issues. 

CROSSCUTTING PROGRAMS 
STRATEGIC GOAL 

85 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

OTP works with ED and DOL on workforce and education issues; DOS and USTR on international issues; USPTO,

and a variety of agencies on technology transfer activities and on intellectual property rights issues; HHS, the National

Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on medical technology issues; all the major

federal science and technology agencies on technology transfer issues; and with the Office of Science and Technology

Policy (OSTP) on international science and technology issues.

OTP works closely with private industry and the science and technology community to develop and coordinate

national technology policy. OTP also serves as an advocate for policies that best leverage the benefits of new

technology and contribute to the nation’s economy.

NTIS provides a variety of services that assist other agencies in developing, producing, and disseminating their

information in a variety of media.

NTIA works with ESA on Internet use measurements analysis and with USPTO on domain name and intellectual

property issues relating to digital rights management. 

NTIA works with the White House and other federal agencies to develop and coordinate Administration-wide

telecommunications policy statements, and represents the Administration on telecommunications and information

policy issues before Congress and the FCC. NTIA serves as the manager of federal government spectrum while the

FCC manages the non-federal spectrum. Since spectrum is often shared, NTIA and the FCC regularly engage in

coordination of spectrum uses and policies.

NTIA obtains private-sector views on a broad range of telecommunications and information policy issues through

formal proceedings where public comments are solicited, and through public conferences, workshops, and meetings

on specific subjects.

USPTO awards partnership contracts to several private sector companies for the electronic filing of patent

applications. The partnerships are “no cost contracts,” which means that the companies will be providing their

services to USPTO customers at no cost to the agency.

USPTO collaborates with the European Patent Office (EPO) to deliver high-quality products through implementing

electronic patent processing. 

DM works with all bureaus, most other government agencies, and the private sector in four key areas: policy

development and program management, human resources, financial management, and IT policy development and

program management.

CROSSCUTTING PROGRAMS 
86 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN
87

PROGRAM

EVA L UAT I O N S
FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN
STRATEGIC GOAL 

89 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

Program Evaluations

The Department considers outside evaluations to be an important part of the strategic planning process. We have found

that outside evaluations play an important role in determining what performance goals and measures best reflect how the

Department accomplishes its mission.

OIG prepares annual audit plans for those areas that are subject to audit or inspection. The Department’s Chief

Financial Officer (CFO) will have an opportunity to review the draft plan. 

NOAA programs are peer reviewed, either internally or outside the agency by, for example, NAS, NSF, NRC, or

NOAA’s SAB. Constituent input is an important part of the evaluation process and is solicited regularly through

constituent workshops. Moreover, reviews often occur by opposing parties’ scientists in the court system, as in the

case of NOAA fisheries, when fisheries management decisions are litigated.

The NIST laboratories are reviewed annually by the NRC. NRC performs a comprehensive evaluation of the technical

merit and quality, effectiveness, and relevance of the laboratory program. Their findings are published in a report

generally available in October; the most recent report is available at:

http://www7.nationalacademies.org/NIST/NIST_reports.html

The NIST extramural programs are reviewed several times per year by their individual review boards with each

advisory summarizing their observations and recommendations in a written report. In addition, VCAT evaluates

programmatic and management policies for the entire organization on a quarterly basis. Additional information about

VCAT, including its most recent annual report is available at: http://www.nist.gov/director/vcat/index.htm. OMB reviews

BEA as part of the budget process. 

BEA was included in the new OMB PART assessment on which BEA scored the second highest rating. BEA has an

expert Advisory Committee that reviews BEA programs twice a year. BEA conducts both an annual Customer

Satisfaction Survey to evaluate programs and services to users and an annual Organizational Assessment Survey

through OPM to evaluate employee quality of work life and organizational needs. As part of BEA’s strategic planning

process, senior staff annually review and update the 5-year strategic plan, which is then made available to staff and

users for their comments and evaluations. BEA also takes part in a number of independent IT evaluations. 

BIS was evaluated in the following reports: Nonproliferation: Strategy Needed to Strengthen Multilateral Export

Control Regimes, GAO-03-43; Improvements Are Needed to Better Enforce Dual-Use Export Control Laws, IPE-15155;

Stronger Management Controls are Needed for BIS’s Export Enforcement Firearms Program, IPE-15155-1; Interagency

Review of Federal Enforcement Efforts, D-2003-069.

PROGRAM EVALUATIONS
STRATEGIC GOAL 

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 90

ITA developed an internal strategic plan covering fiscal years 2002 through 2006 that helps define strategic direction

and outline an agenda for the next five years. It is ITA’s roadmap to become a leader in providing customer-focused,

responsibly managed federal government export promotion, trade agreements compliance, trade agreement

negotiations, and the elimination of unfair trade practices. ITA plans to conduct program evaluations to ensure

effective monitoring of mission accomplishments. This process begins in FY 2003 with the PART and USFCS

programs. Presently, ITA is reviewing current programs and operations contributing to the ITA mission

accomplishments and cooperating with OIG, GAO, and other federal organizations to develop an evaluation schedule.

Census is currently undergoing the OMB PART assessment for four of its programs, including the Decennial Census.

Ten advisory committees review programs and advise the Census Bureau through public meetings held twice each

year. NAS has ongoing panels examining programs such as the Decennial Census, the ACS, poverty estimate, and

population projections.

PROGRAM EVALUATIONS
91

APPENDICES
FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN
STRATEGIC GOAL 

93 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

Appendix A: NOAA Performance Goal

Crosswalk

The following is a crosswalk between the NOAA performance goals as they appear in the FY 2004 Annual Performance

Plan (APP) and the FY 2005 Department of Commerce and NOAA Strategic Plans. If an old performance goal is not broken

down to subsections, that entire performance goal appears within one of the new performance goals. When an old performance

goal is divided among more than one new performance goal, the old performance goal is shown by the performance measures

that appear in the new respective performance goals. 

APPENDICES

FY 2004 APP Performance Goals FY 2005 Performance Goals

PERFORMANCE GOAL 1: Build sustainable fisheries

PERFORMANCE GOAL 2: Sustain healthy coasts

Number of acres of coastal habitat benefited 

Introductions and effects of invasive species

Percentage of U.S. shoreline and inland areas that have improved ability to 

reduce hazard impacts

PERFORMANCE GOAL 3: Recover protected species

PERFORMANCE GOAL 4: Advance short-term warnings and forecasts

Tornado lead time, accuracy, and FAR

Flash flood lead time and accuracy

Hurricane forecast track error

Precipitation 1-day forecasts

Aviation accuracy and FAR forecasts

Marine accuracy and FAR

PERFORMANCE GOAL 5: Implement seasonal to interannual climate forecasts

PERFORMANCE GOAL 6: Predict and assess decadal to centennial change

PERFORMANCE GOAL 7: Promote safe navigation

Improve protection, restoration, and management of coastal and ocean

resources through ecosystem-based management

Improve protection, restoration, and management of coastal and ocean

resources through ecosystem-based management

Improve accuracy and timeliness of weather and water information 

Improve protection, restoration, and management of coastal and ocean

resources through ecosystem-based management

Improve accuracy and timeliness of weather and water information

Support the nation’s commerce with information for safe, efficient, and 

environmentally sound transportation

Increase understanding of climate variability and change 

Increase understanding of climate variability and change

Support the nation’s commerce with information for safe, efficient, and 

environmentally sound transportation
FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN
STRATEGIC GOAL 

95 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

Appendix B: Department Goals,Objectives,

Outcomes,and Performance Measures

Strategic Goal 1: Provide the information and tools to maximize

U.S. competitiveness and enable economic growth for American

industries, workers, and consumers

APPENDICES

(continued)

Increase private enterprise 

and job creation in 

economically distressed 

communities

Improve community capacity 

to achieve and sustain 

economic growth

Increase trade opportunities for

U.S. firms to advance the United

States international commercial

and strategic interests

Expand U.S. exporter base

Private sector dollars invested in distressed communities as a result of EDA investments

Jobs created or retained in distressed communities as a result of EDA investments

State and local dollars committed per EDA dollar

Percentage of investments to areas of highest distress

Percentage of EDA dollars invested in technology-related projects in distressed areas

Percentage of economic development districts and Indian tribes implementing economic development projects from the 

comprehensive economic development strategy process that lead to private investments and jobs

Percentage of sub-state jurisdiction members actively participating in the economic development district program

Percentage of University Center clients taking action as a result of the assistance facilitated by the University Center

Percentage of those actions taken by University Center clients that achieved the expected results

Percentage of Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (TACC) clients taking action as a result of the assistance facilitated by TACC

Percentage of those actions taken by TACC clients that achieved the expected results

Percentage of local technical assistance and economic adjustment strategy investments awarded in areas of highest distress

Number of new or enhanced ITA partnerships with public and private sector entities to promote U.S. exports

Placeholder for new measure dealing with international trade negotiations

Number of new-to-market firms

Dollar exports in targeted products and markets

Percentage of undertaken advocacy actions completed successfully

Dollar value of completed advocacies (U.S. export content)

Number of U.S. exporters entering new market

Number of U.S. firms exporting for the first time

Number of export transactions made as a result of ITA involvement

ITA

EDA

Bureau Outcome Performance Measure

General Goal/Objective 1.1: Enhance economic growth for all Americans by developing partnerships with private

sector and nongovernmental organizations
STRATEGIC GOAL 

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 96

APPENDICES

Outcome Performance Measure

Improve customer and 

stakeholder satisfaction

Improve the U.S. competitive

advantage through global 

e-commerce

Increase opportunities and

access of minority-owned 

businesses to the marketplace

and financing

Customer satisfaction with the quality of ITA’s products and services

Customer perception of ease of access to export and trade information and data

Customer value: level of awareness of ITA products and services

Employee job satisfaction

Number of customers acquired through proactive ITA efforts

Number of U.S. exporter activities undertaken per customer surveyed

Number of new subscribers using BuyUSA.com e-services

Customer perception of portal ease of use

Percentage of ITA’s significant products and services provided electronically to external customers

Total number of all clients receiving services

Number of contract awards obtained

Dollar value of contract awards obtained

Number of financial awards obtained

Dollar value of financial awards obtained

Number of employee training hours

Number of new job opportunities created

Percent increase in client gross receipts

Percent increase in American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI)

Number of national and regional strategic partnerships

Bureau

MBDA

General Goal/Objective 1.1: Enhance economic growth for all Americans by developing partnerships with private

sector and nongovernmental organizations (cont.)
STRATEGIC GOAL 

97 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

APPENDICES

General Goal/Objective 1.2: Advance responsible economic growth and trade while protecting American security

Outcome Performance Measure

Ensure fair competition in 

international trade

Protect the U.S. national 

security and economic 

interests by enhancing 

the efficiency of the 

export control system

Ensure U.S. industry 

compliance with the Chemical

Weapons Convention (CWC)

Agreement

Prevent illegal exports, and

identify violators of export 

prohibitions and restrictions 

for prosecution

Enhance the export and 

transit control systems of

nations that lack effective 

control arrangements

Percentage of AD/CVD cases completed on time

Number of market access and compliance cases initiated

Number of market access and compliance cases concluded

Median processing time for referral of export licenses to other agencies (days)

Median processing time for export licenses not referred to other agencies (days)

Median processing time for issuing draft regulations (months)

Level of exporter understanding of BIS export control requirements (Note: This measure will include international outreach data

after baseline is established in FY 2005)

Number of industry and export control assessments

Number of internal control programs that contribute to compliance with license conditions 

Develop an internal control program (ICP) for the Transshipment Country Export Control Initiative (TECI) (Note: After pilot is

completed in FY 2005, BIS will visit other transshipment hubs and develop tailored ICPs)

Number of site assistance visits conducted to assist companies prepare for international inspections

Number of cases opened that result in the prevention of a criminal violation or the prosecution of a criminal or administrative case

Number of post-shipment verifications completed

Number of targeted deficiencies remedied in the export control systems of program nations

Bureau

BIS

ITA
STRATEGIC GOAL 

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 98

APPENDICES

General General Goal/Objective 1.3: Enhance the supply of key economic and demographic data to support

effective decision-making of policymakers, businesses, and the American public

Outcome Performance Measure

Meet the needs of policymakers,

businesses and non-profit 

organizations, and the public 

for current measures of the U.S.

population, economy, and 

governments

Support the economic and 

political foundations of the United

States by producing benchmark

measures of the economy and

population for the administration

and equitable funding of federal,

state, and local programs

Meet constitutional and legislative

mandates by implementing a 

re-engineered 2010 Census that is

cost-effective, provides more timely

data, improves coverage accuracy,

and reduces operational risk

Support innovation, promote data

use, minimize respondent burden,

respect individual privacy, and

ensure confidentiality

Promote a better understanding 

of the U.S. economy by providing

the most timely, relevant, and 

accurate economic data in an

objective and cost–effective 

manner

Household response rate for the Current Population Survey, the National Crime Victimization Survey, and the American

Housing Survey; response rate for the National Health Interview Survey; and household response rate for the Survey

of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)

Release data products from the SIPP and release data products from the Survey of Program Dynamics

Release principal economic indicators

Response rates for Annual Economic Surveys used to update benchmark data during intercensal years [Includes

Annual Survey of Manufacturers (ASM), the Annual Trade Survey (ATS), the Annual Retail Trade Survey (ARTS), and

the Service Annual Survey (SAS)]

Conduct the Economic Census and Census of Governments

Release Decennial Census data products, release Census of Governments data products, and release Economic

Census data products

Release population estimates and survey controls for all subgroups and geographies

Introduce new Census 2000-based samples for the consumer expenditures survey-quarterly (CE-Q)

Introduce new Census 2000-based samples for the consumer expenditures survey-diary (CE-D)

Introduce new Census 2000-based samples for the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)

Introduce new Census 2000-based samples for the American Housing Survey-National (AHS-N)

Implement the American Community Survey (ACS)

Implement MAF/TIGER Modernization

Conduct early 2010 Census planning, development, and testing

Response to the Annual Boundary and Annexation Survey (ABAS)

Meet milestone dates for evaluating and expanding Web-based technology solutions to include more

functionality/business processes

Segment score for overall customer satisfaction on the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI)

Reliability of delivery—economic data (number of scheduled release issued on time)

Customer satisfaction with quality of products and services (mean rating on a 5-point scale)

Percentage of GDP estimates correct

Improving GDP and the economic accounts

Accelerating economic estimates

Meeting U.S. international obligations

Upgrading information technology systems

Bureau

BEA

Census
STRATEGIC GOAL 

99 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

Strategic Goal 2: Foster science and technological leadership by

protecting intellectual property, enhancing technical standards, and

advancing measurement science

APPENDICES

General Goal/Objective 2.1: Develop tools and capabilities that improve the productivity, quality, dissemination,

and efficiency of research

Outcome Performance Measure

Provide leadership in promoting

national technology policies

that facilitate U.S. preeminence

in key areas of science and

technology 

Provide technical leadership

for the nation's measurement

and standards infrastructure

Assure the availability and 

efficient transfer of measurement and standards capabilities essential to established

industries

Catalyze, reward, and 

recognize quality and 

performance improvement

practices in U.S. business 

and other organizations

Enhance public access to

worldwide scientific and 

technical information through

improved acquisition and 

dissemination activities

Support/Improve American Innovation System

Advance role of technology in U.S. economic growth and homeland security

Strengthen competitive position of American technology industries

Strengthen US/OTP’s organization, capabilities, and resources to maximize the effectiveness of its activities and services

Qualitative assessment and review of technical quality and merit using peer review

Citation impact of NIST-authored publications

Peer-reviewed technical publications

Number of Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) sold

Number of NIST-maintained datasets downloaded

Number of items calibrated

Economic impact studies

Percentage of applicants indicating satisfaction with the relevance and importance of the feedback report

Number of Baldrige Criteria disseminated

Number of new items available (annual)

Number of information products disseminated (annual)

Customer satisfaction

Bureau

TA/NIST

TA/NTIS

TA/OTP
STRATEGIC GOAL 

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 100

APPENDICES

General Goal/Objective 2.2: Protect intellectual property and improve the patent and trademark system

Outcome Performance Measure

Create a more flexible organization through transitioning

patent and trademark

applications to e-government

operations and participating 

in intellectual property

development worldwide

Improve the quality of patent

products and services, and

optimize patent processing

time

Improve the quality of

trademark products and

services, and optimize

trademark processing time

Patent applications filed electronically

Patent applications managed electronically

Trademark applications filed electronically

Trademark applications managed electronically

Improve patent quality by reducing the error rate

Patent-in-process reviews

Patent examiner certification

Patent examiner re-certification

Reduce average patent first action pendency (months)

Reduce average patent total pendency (monthly)

Patent efficiency

Patent productivity

Improve trademark quality by reducing the error rate

Trademark-in-process reviews

Reduce average trademark first action pendency (months)

Reduce average trademark total pendency (monthly)

Trademark efficiency

Trademark productivity

USPTO

Bureau

General Goal/Objective 2.3: Advance the development of global e-commerce and enhanced 

telecommunications and information services

Outcome Performance Measure

Increase competition within

the telecommunications 

sector and universal access 

to telecommunication services

for all Americans

Efficient and effective allocation

of radio spectrum

Ensure broader availability,

and support new sources, of

advanced telecommunications

and information services

Provide the policy framework for introduction of new technologies

Policy customer survey

Timeliness of processing

Percentage of requests accomplished online

Completeness and accuracy of agency assignment requests

Customer satisfaction survey on training course

Digital broadcasting conversion

Quality of basic research as reflected in peer-reviewed publications

Level of technology transfer activities conducted with the private sector through CRADAs

Bureau

NTIA
STRATEGIC GOAL 

101 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

Strategic Goal 3: Observe, protect, and manage the Earth’s resources

to promote environmental stewardship

APPENDICES

General Goal/Objective 3.1: Advance understanding and predict changes in the Earth’s environment to meet

America’s economic, social, and environmental needs

Improve accuracy and 

timeliness of weather and 

water information

Increase understanding of 

climate variability and change

Lead time (minutes), accuracy (%), and false alarm rate (FAR,%) for severe weather warnings for tornadoes

Lead time (minutes) and accuracy (%) for severe weather warnings for flash floods

Hurricane forecast track error (48-hour)

Accuracy (%) of 1-day threat score forecast for precipitation 

Lead time (hours) and accuracy (%) for winter storm warnings

Cumulative percentage of U.S. shoreline and inland areas that have improved ability to reduce coastal hazard impacts

U.S. temperature forecasts

New climate observations introduced

Assess and model carbon sources throughout the United States

Assess and model carbon sources and sinks globally

Determine actual long-term changes in temperature and precipitation throughout the United States

Bureau Outcome Performance Measure

NOAA

General Goal/Objective 3.2: Enhance the conservation and management of coastal and marine resources to

meet America’s economic, social, and environmental needs

Outcome Performance Measure

Improve protection, restoration,

and management of coastal 

and ocean resources through

ecosystem-based management

Support the nation’s commerce

with information for safe, 

efficient, and environmentally

sound transportation

Number of overfished major stocks of fish

Number of major stocks with an “unknown” stock status

Percentage of plans to rebuild overfished major stocks to sustainable levels

Increase in number of threatened species with lower risk of extinction

Number of commercial fisheries that have insignificant marine mammal mortality

Increase in number of endangered species with lower risk of extinction

Number of habitat acres restored (cumulative)

Reduce the Hydrographic Survey backlog within navigationally significant areas (square nautical miles surveyed per year)

Percentage of National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) completed (Cumulative %)

Accuracy (%) and FAR of forecasts of ceiling and visibility (3 miles/1000 ft.) (aviation forecasts)

Accuracy (%) and FAR of forecasts for winds and waves (marine forecasts) wind speed and wave height

Bureau

NOAA
STRATEGIC GOAL 

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 102

Management Integration Goal: Achieve organizational and

management excellence

APPENDICES 

Management Integration Goal: Achieve Organizational and Management Excellence

Outcome Performance Measure

Ensure effective resource 

stewardship in support of the

Department’s programs

Ensure retention of highly 

qualified staff in mission-critical

positions

Acquire and manage the 

technology resources to 

support program goals

Promote improvements to

Commerce programs and 

operations by identifying 

and completing work that 

(1) promotes integrity, efficiency,

and effectiveness; and 

(2) prevents and detects fraud,

waste, and abuse

Clean audit opinion on Department consolidated financial statements

Deploy Commerce-wide integrated financial management system

Consolidate Commerce-wide integrated financial system platforms

Implement competitive sourcing

Funds obligated through performance-based contracting

Small purchases made using credit cards

Use of online procurement to publish synopses and solicitations for proposals to contract with the Department

Increase percentage of total obligations awarded as contracts to small businesses

Reduce energy consumption per square foot from 1985 baseline

Ensure a secure workplace for all Department of Commerce employees

Ensure a safe workplace for all Department of Commerce employees

Strategic competencies—ensure competency in leadership and in mission-critical occupations

Strategic competencies—ensure comprehensive training and development strategies

Strategic competencies—ensure diverse candidate recruitment

Efficiency and effectiveness of hiring systems using the Commerce Opportunities Online (COOL) system

Increase the alignment of performance management with mission accomplishment

Implement a telecommuting program

Transactions converted to electronic format

IT planning and investment review program maturity (on a scale of 0-5)

IT architecture program maturity (on a scale of 0-5)

IT security program maturity (on a scale of 0-5)

Percentage of IT system security plans completed

Percentage of IT system security plans certified and accredited

Percentage of unsuccessful intrusion attempts

Percentage of Commerce’s management challenges, stakeholder concerns, and other critical issues addressed by OIG work

products

Percentage of OIG recommendations accepted by departmental and bureau management

Dollar value of financial benefits identified by OIG

Percentage of criminal and civil matters that are accepted for prosecution

Bureau

DM

OIG
APPENDICES 

103 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

ACS American Community Survey

ACSI American Customer Satisfaction Index

AD Antidumping

AHCRQ Agency for Health Care Research and Quality

APP Annual Performance Plan

ARC Appalachian Regional Commission

ARTS Annual Retail Trade Survey

ASM Annual Survey of Manufacturers

ATS Annual Trade Survey

BEA Bureau of Economic Analysis

BIS Bureau of Industry and Security

BJS Bureau of Justice Statistics

BLS Bureau of Labor Statistics

BNQP Baldrige National Quality Program

CAPs Corrective Action Plans

CFO Chief Financial Officer

CIO Chief Information Officer

COE Corps of Engineers

COOL Commerce Opportunities Online System

COOP Continuity of Operations Plan

CRADA Cooperative Research and Development Agreements

CVD Countervailing Duty

CWC Chemical Weapons Convention

DM Departmental Management

DOD Department of Defense

DOE Department of Energy

DOJ Department of Justice

DOL Department of Labor

DOS Department of State

DOT Department of Transportation

A

B

C

D

Appendix C: Glossary of Acronyms
APPENDICES 

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 104

EAR Export Administration Regulations

ECASS Export Control Automated Support System

ED Department of Education

EDA Economic Development Administration

ENUM Telephone Number Mapping

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

EPO European Patent Office

ERL Environmental Research Laboratories

ESA Economics and Statistics Administration

FAA Federal Aviation Administration

FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation

FCC Federal Communications Commission

FDA Food and Drug Administration

FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency

FRB Federal Reserve Board

FTC Federal Trade Commission

FY Fiscal Year

GAO General Accounting Office

GDP Gross Domestic Product

GIS Geographic Information System

GPS Global Positioning Satellite System

GSS Geographic Support System

HHS Department of Health and Human Services

IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency 

ICANN Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers

ICP Internal Control Program

IRS Internal Revenue Service

IT Information Technology

ITA International Trade Administration

ITS Institute for Telecommunications Sciences

ITU International Telecommunication Union

F

G

H

I

E
APPENDICES 

105 FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

MAF Master Address File

MBDA Minority Business Development Agency

MIS Management Information System

MTS Marine Transportation System

NAS National Academy of Sciences

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NCEP National Centers for Environmental Protection

NCES National Center for Education Statistics

NEC National Education Council

NESDIS National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service

NIH National Institutes of Health

NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology

NMIs National Metrology Institutes

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NRC National Research Council

NSF National Science Foundation

NSRS National Spatial Reference System

NTIA National Telecommunications and Information Administration

NTIS National Technical Information Service

NWS National Weather Service

OAR Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (NOAA)

OGC Office of General Counsel

OGP Office of Global Programs

OIG Office of the Inspector General

OMB Office of Management and Budget 

OPCW Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

OPEM Office of Planning, Evaluation and Management

OPM Office of Personnel Management

OSTP Office of Science and Technology Policy

OTP Office of Technology Policy

PART Program Assessment Rating Tool

PCS Personal Communication Service

RLF Revolving Loan Fund

O

M

N

P

R
APPENDICES 

FY 2004 - FY 2009 STRATEGIC PLAN 106

S&T Science and Technology

SAB Science Advisory Board

SAS Service Annual Survey

SBA Small Business Administration

SIPP Survey of Income and Program Participation

SMEs small and medium-sized enterprises

SRMs standard reference materials

3G Third Generation

TA Technology Administration

TAAC Trade Adjustment Assistance Center

TECI Transshipment Country Export Control Initiative 

TCC Trade Compliance Center

TIGER Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and 

Reference System 

TPCC Trade Promotion Coordination Committee

Treasury Department of Treasury

USFCS U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service

USAID U.S. Agency for International Development

USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture

USPTO U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

USTR U.S. Trade Representative

UWB Ultra Wideband

VCAT Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology

WTO World Trade Organization

S

T

U

W

V

A M E R I C A N J O B S , A M E R I C A N

V A L U E

S

STRATEGIC GOALS

GOAL 1

Provide the information and tools to

maximize U.S. competitiveness and enable

economic growth for American industries,

workers, and consumers.

GOAL 2

Foster science and technological

leadership by protecting intellectual

property, enhancing technical standards,

and advancing measurement science.

GOAL 3

Observe, protect, and manage the

earth’s resources to promote

environmental stewardship.

MANAGEMENT INTEGRATION GOAL

Achieve organizational and

management excellence.

NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS & INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION NATIONAL OCEANIC & ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY

ECONOMICS & STATISTICS ADMINISTRATION

MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION

BUREAU OF INDUSTRY & SECURITY

NATIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICE

BUREAU OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION

BUREAU OF THE CENSUS