The relationship of this combined document with the Accountability report has not yet been defined. Treasury's Office of Technical Assistance was heard to include some of the best outcome goals across government. The full revised performance plan could then be submitted with the February budget. Performance plans combined with budget submissions tended to be longer than plans that were kept separate from the budget. The question of how to make long plans digestible is a challenge that needs to be addressed.
Many plans assume too much familiarity with agency programs on the part of the reader.
Performance plans need to be accessible to readers outside the agency. It will focus on this activity in the September to November time frame as part of their Fall budget deliberations. As many program evaluations take considerable time to plan, execute, and develop findings, it is not too early to consider what additional program evaluations might be beneficial. Although some goals are straight forward, and would not require a program evaluation, OMB sees that program evaluations will be needed for some types of goals in order to determine accomplishment. Those of a social nature are particular candidates.