NSF’s mission is to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; and to secure the national defense. NSF is in the process of developing a 5-year strategic plan on its workforce needs that must be submitted to OMB by July 20, 2001. Comparison of NSF’s Fiscal Year 2000 Performance Report and Fiscal Year 2002 Performance Plan With the Prior Year’s Report and Plan for Selected Key Outcomes

For the selected key outcomes, this section describes major improvements or remaining weaknesses in NSF’s (1) fiscal year 2000 performance report in comparison with its fiscal year 1999 report and (2) fiscal year 2002 performance plan in comparison with its fiscal year 2001 plan. Last year, we also reported that the strategies for achieving the goals were not clearly discussed. The 2002 performance plan still does not do so. Regarding strategic human capital management, we found that NSF’s performance plan generally did not have goals and measures related to strategic human capital management, and NSF’s performance report did not explain its progress in resolving strategic human capital management challenges. While NSF’s performance report did not explain its progress in resolving information security challenges, it did indicate that NSF has internal management controls that continually monitor data security.
Why GAO Did This Study

This report reviews the National Science Foundation's (NSF) fiscal year 2000 performance report and fiscal year 2002 performance report plan required by the Government Performance and Results Act.

What GAO Found

Specifically, GAO discusses NSF's progress in addressing several key outcomes that are important to NSF's mission. NSF reported that it made substantial progress in achieving its key outcomes. Although the planned strategies for achieving these key outcomes generally are clear and reasonable, some are vague and do not identify the specific steps for achieving the goals. NSF's fiscal year 2000 performance report and fiscal year 2002 performance plan reflect continued improvement compared with the prior year's report and plan. Although the 2002 performance plan does not substantially address NSF's human capital management, NSF is developing a five-year workforce strategic plan to address strategic human capital management issues that must be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget by July 20, 2001. NSF's performance report did not explain its progress in resolving information security challenges, but NSF indicated that it has internal management controls that continually monitor data security.