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ExpectMore.govExpectMore.gov home pageEXPECT FEDERAL PROGRAMS TO PERFORM WELL, AND BETTER EVERY YEAR.
 
Program Assessment

Program

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Water Quality Research

The purpose of the program is to provide timely, cutting-edge water quality research products and information to the EPA Office of Water, Regions and States for use in support of Clean Water Act regulatory and non-regulatory activities.

Rating

What This Rating Means

PERFORMING
Adequate

This rating describes a program that needs to set more ambitious goals, achieve better results, improve accountability or strengthen its management practices.
  • The program has long-term and annual output performance measures that reflect the purpose of the program; but ambitious long-term outcome measures are still under development. The program has a preliminary output efficiency measure.
  • While the program collects performance information from its grantees, the program is unable to demonstrate how this information is tied to appropriate management actions. For example, the program assesses and reports on the progress of grantees; however, it is unclear how the program uses this information to guide management decisions.
  • The program tracks the progress of its research activities and has regular reporting of financial status. There is less emphasis on prospective financial planning or the use of this information to manage the program.

Improvement Plan

About Improvement Plans

We are taking the following actions to improve the performance of the program:

  • Finalizing ambitious long-term outcome performance measures, which assess the utility of the program's research products and services with respect to the outcome goals of its clients.
  • Developing and implementing a protocol for more frequent review and use of financial and performance tracking data to improve budget and performance integration.
  • Developing a new outcome efficiency measure that captures the cost effectiveness of research activities.

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