Budget and Performance

AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009

BUDGET

Additional budget information and prior year Budget Requests and Annual Appropriations are available on the budget page.

PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY

NSF’s leadership in advancing the frontiers of science and engineering research and education is demonstrated, in part, through internal and external performance assessments. The results of this process provide stakeholders and taxpayers with vital information about the return on their investments. Performance assessment at NSF is guided by the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) and by NSF’s FY 2006–2011 Strategic Plan.

To accomplish its mission to promote the progress of science and engineering, NSF invests in the best ideas generated by scientists, engineers, and educators across all fields of research and education. NSF’s Strategic Plan establishes four overarching strategic outcome goals by which NSF measures its annual performance: Discovery, Learning, Research Infrastructure, and Stewardship. The four goals establish an integrated strategy to deliver new knowledge, meet vital national needs, and work to achieve the NSF vision. The first three goals focus on NSF’s long-term investments in science and engineering research and education. The fourth goal, Stewardship, focuses on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the agency's operations and services to the science, engineering, and education community.

NSF Strategic Framework

Assessing the Outcomes of the Long-Term Strategic Outcome Goals: Discovery, Learning, and Research Infrastructure

NSF uses a multi-layer performance assessment approach, integrating qualitative and quantitative goals. Central to assessment of agency-wide strategic goals is the Advisory Committee for GPRA Performance Assessment, which annually reviews outcomes of NSF’s investments in research and education. NSF’s Directorates and Offices also have advisory committees, which usually meet semi-annually to review program directions and outcomes. Committees of Visitors for each NSF Division or crosscutting program also provide external, independent advice on program management and conduct a review of program outcomes.

Advisory Committee for GPRA Performance Assessment (AC/GPA)

The AC/GPA is comprised of about 20 members, each of whom has strong academic credentials and substantial experience in academia, government, and/or industry. About one-third of the members are also members of NSF Directorate or Office advisory committees, providing valuable linkages to those bodies. The Committee works closely with NSF staff during the three or four months prior to their annual meeting to ensure that they receive performance information for programs across the Foundation. The Committee is charged with reviewing NSF’s investments in research and education to determine whether NSF demonstrated significant achievement in meeting its strategic outcome goals of Discovery, Learning, and Research Infrastructure. The Committee submits a report annually to the Director that evaluates NSF performance under each strategic goal.

The AC/GPA uses evaluation criteria, or performance indicators, to evaluate outcomes from NSF’s grant programs in research, education, and research infrastructure. The indicators take into account the support of potentially transformative research, stimulating innovation, developing successful models for teaching and learning, achieving active support of undergraduate and graduate students in research projects, and fostering research at large facilities or with advanced instrumentation that could not have been carried out without NSF support.

Assessing the Annual Outcomes under Stewardship

Stewardship is defined in the NSF Strategic Plan as supporting excellence in science and engineering research and education through a capable and responsive organization. The performance areas focus on the agency’s efficiency and effectiveness not only in its internal operations and management but also in delivering essential services to its constituents in the science, engineering, and education community.

NSF has milestones and measures associated with eight performance areas under Stewardship:

For more information on performance results, consult NSF’s FY 2008 Annual Performance Report and FY 2008 Citizens’ Report.

Other Annual Performance Goals

In its FY 2008 Annual Performance Report, NSF reports on the results of 20 annual performance goals associated with its PART (Program Assessment Rating Tool) evaluations conducted from FY 2003 through FY 2008. Those goals will be reassessed as new guidance on performance metrics becomes available from the Office of Management and Budget.

NSF Assessment Framework