The last measure for basic research that we ask about is the post hoc review. One of the things that NSF did under Neal Lane was to establish through its advisory committees what I call a rolling 3-year post hoc review. Every 3 years the committee will come back and look retroactively at what the results have been. This is terrific. The next test will be how this is incorporated into budget decisions prospectively.
More concrete measures are possible with applied research.
We work with the agencies and ask them what performance measures make sense. Then we establish them and follow how they implement them. Within USDA, the Agricultural Research Service has set specific targets for particular programs for community quarantines and fly pests. When you come to the operation of facilities, a different, more concrete set of measures applies. When you operate facilities, it ought to be done efficiently and your performance can be benchmarked.