A well- defined, comprehensive strategic plan for the NCR is essential for assuring  that the region is prepared for the risks it faces. One of the ONCRC mandates is to coordinate with federal,  state, local, and regional agencies and the private sector in NCR on  terrorism preparedness to ensure adequate planning, information sharing,  training, and execution of domestic preparedness activities among these  agencies and entities. NCR Has Not Produced a Strategic Plan

Although work has continued on a NCR strategic plan for the past 2 years,  a completed plan is not yet available to guide decision making such as  assessment of NCR’s strategic priorities and funding needs and aid for  NCR jurisdictions in ascertaining how the NCR strategic plan  complements their individual or combined efforts. In May 2004, we  recommended that the Secretary of DHS work with the NCR jurisdictions  to develop a coordinated strategic plan to establish goals and priorities to  enhance first responder capacities that can be used to guide the use of  federal emergency preparedness funds, and the department agreed to  implement this recommendation. These documents  include    a November 18, 2005, NCR Plenary Session PowerPoint presentation  containing information on NCR strategic goals, objectives, and  initiatives;    a February 1, 2006, National Capital Region Target Capabilities and  NCR Projects Work Book;  the March 2, 2006, District of Columbia and National Capital Region  Fiscal Year 2006 Homeland Security Grant Application Program and  Capability Enhancement Plan;  the March 2, 2006, National Capital Region Initiatives; and  the Fiscal Year 2006 NCR Homeland Security Grant Program Funding  Request Investment Justification, submitted to DHS in March 2006. According to ONCRC officials, a complete strategic plan is awaiting  integration of additional information that in some cases is not yet  complete. NCR Strategic Planning Should Reflect Both National and Regional Priorities and Needs

NCR strategic planning should reflect both national and regional priorities  and needs. The other four documents that ONCRC represents as constituting the NCR  strategic plan were developed in response to federal requirements under  the National Preparedness Goal and to support the NCR’s federal funding  application. The NCR’s strategic plan should  provide the framework for guiding the integration of DHS requirements  into the NCR’s overall efforts. In earlier work we  have identified characteristics that we consider to be desirable for a  national strategy that may be useful for a regional approach to homeland  security strategic planning. Our preliminary review indicates that as the ONCRC fleshes out the  November 18 PowerPoint presentation into an initial, complete strategic  plan, improvements might be made in (1) initiatives that will accomplish  objectives under the strategic goals, (2) performance measures and targets  that indicate how the initiatives will accomplish identified strategic goals,  (3) milestones or time frames for initiative accomplishment, (4)  information on the resources and investment for each initiative, and (5)  organizational roles, responsibilities, and coordination, and integration  and implementation plans. However, the majority of the presentation’s performance measures and  targets are process- or output-oriented and may not match the desired  result of the initiative.
Why GAO Did This Study

Congress asked GAO to provide comments on the National Capital Region's (NCR) strategic plan. GAO reported on NCR strategic planning, among other issues, in May 2004 and September 2004, testified before the House Committee on Government Reform in June 2004, and testified before the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia in July 2005. In this testimony, we addressed completion of the NCR strategic plan, national and regional priorities, and strengthening any plan that is developed.

What GAO Found

Among its other statutory responsibilities, the Office of National Capital Region Coordination is charged with coordinating with NCR agencies and other entities to ensure adequate planning, information sharing, training, and execution of domestic preparedness activities among these agencies and entities. In May 2004 and again in July 2005, we recommended that the ONCRC complete a regional strategic plan to establish goals and priorities for enhancing first responder capacities that could be used to guide the effective use of federal funds. Although work has continued on a NCR strategic plan for the past 2 years, a completed plan is not yet available. According to NCR officials, completion of the plan requires integrating information and analyses from other documents completed or nearly completed, and a plan may not be available before September or October of 2006. The NCR's strategic planning should reflect both national and regional priorities and needs. The majority of the individual documents ONCRC provided to us as representing components for its strategic plan were developed in response to Department of Homeland Security fiscal year 2006 grant guidance to support the NCR's fiscal year 2006 grant application. It is appropriate and necessary that the NCR address national priorities, but the NCR's strategic plan should not be primarily driven by these requirements. It should integrate national and regional priorities and needs. A well-defined, comprehensive strategic plan for the NCR is essential for assuring that the region is prepared for the risks it faces. A November 18, 2005, NCR PowerPoint presentation describes the NCR's vision, mission, goals, objectives, and priority initiatives. That presentation includes some elements of a good strategic plan, including some performance measures, target dates, and cost estimates. A completed NCR strategic plan should build on the current elements that the NCR has developed and strengthen others based on the desirable characteristics of a national strategy that may also be useful for a regional approach to homeland security strategic planning. As it completes its strategic plan, the NCR could focus on strengthening (1) initiatives that will accomplish objectives under the NCR strategic goals, (2) performance measures and targets that indicate how the initiatives will accomplish identified strategic goals, (3) milestones or timeframes for initiative accomplishment, (4) information on the resources and investments for each initiative, and (5) organizational roles, responsibilities, and coordination, and integration and implementation plans.