Office of Planning and Accountability

The CSREES Office of Planning and Accountability (OPA) provides leadership to the agency in strategic planning, performance measurement, and evaluation. The agency uses these activities to improve program leadership and management, allocation of resources, and evaluation of success. These activities are described fully on the agency's Strategic Planning and Accountability Web page.

Specific responsibilities in this regard include:

• lead the development of the agency strategic plan and support strategic planning at the portfolio and program level;
• lead the assessment of portfolios of agency programs done annually by internal teams and every 5 years by panels of external experts;
• in partnership with the Budget Office, develop the performance sections of agency budget submissions; and
• work with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to assess agency performance using the Program Assessment Review Tool (PART).

OPA also manages the programmatic reporting on the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act (AREERA) Plan of Work and Annual Report; the CSREES review of multi-state research projects (see NIMSS, a system run by the regional associations of agricultural experiment station directors, for more information); and intellectual property reporting and issues. In support of the associate administrator, the director of OPA coordinates the assignment of national program leaders for institutional (program) reviews.

Related Links

• CSREES Strategic Planning and Accountability
• Review of Agency Research, Education, and Extension Portfolios
• State Plans of Work Annual Reports (AREERA)
• FAQs about Planning and Reporting under AREERA
• Intellectual Property
• One Solution Initiative

Staff

Robert MacDonald, Director

All Planning and Accountability Staff

Contact

Phone: 202-720-5623
Fax: 202-720-7714

Mailing Address:
Planning and Accountability
CSREES, USDA
1400 Independence Ave., SW, Stop 2213
Washington, DC 20250-2213

Express Mail:
Planning and Accountability
CSREES, USDA
Waterfront Centre
Room 1310
800 9th St., SW
Washington, DC 20024

Last Updated: 10/29/2008