As indicated in the last edition of the NBC Profile, PPOO has two primary functions: 1) Planning and Performance Management (PPM) and 2) Management Control and Audit Liaison (MCA).

PPOO recently developed a charter to more clearly define the fore-mentioned roles and responsibilities, as well as focus its attention on the priorities of the National Business Center (NBC). Highlights of PPOO's roles and responsibilities from the charter presented to the NBC Leadership Team are as follows:

Planning and Performance Management

• Provides policy and procedural guidance on developing business plans for each of the NBC Directorates.
• Develops policy on performance measurement for NBC business lines and products and services.
• Develops procedures for internal management reporting of performance measurement data.
• Performs independent analyses of performance measurement data and services and makes recommendations to the Directorates.
• Develops performance management training programs for NBC employees.
• In collaboration with the Budget Office, identifies budget and performance integration opportunities.
• Chairs the PPOO Collateral Performance Team, consisting of representatives from the NBC Directorates, which ensures that NBC management is informed about and knowledgeable of the policies, procedures, reporting requirements, schedules for developing performance goals and measures and business plans, and schedules for reporting the status of their progress in achieving their business plans.

Management Control & Audit Liaison Oversight

• Coordinates all audits of the NBC activities by the Office of Inspector General (OIG), General Accounting Office (GAO), and commercial audit firms, and provides guidance to NBC organizations in responding to audit requests, findings, and recommendations to ensure appropriateness and timeliness of response.
• Ensures Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) are developed for all audit recommendations and monitors completion of CAPs for all audit recommendations.
• Provides formal guidance to NBC management on performing management control reviews (MCRs) in accordance with Departmental and OMB guidelines.
• Monitors progress in performing MCRs to ensure timely completion.
• Ensures CAPs are developed for all identified management control weaknesses and monitors CAPs to ensure timely and complete resolution.
• Submits annual assurance statement on adequacy of internal controls.
• Chairs the NBC Management Control Review & Audit Follow-up Council (MCAF), which ensures compliance with OMB, Departmental, and NBC policies and procedures regarding the management control and audit follow-up programs.

Status of Activities
Planning, performance management, and budget integration policies and procedures are being drafted by PPM and were distributed for review and comment in May 2004 before being finalized. As a framework within which to carry out its responsibilities and to meet other critical informational needs throughout the NBC, PPOO is working with NBC's Customer Relations Office, the NBC Chief Architect, and the NBC Budget Office to gather data on the NBC's products and services. Subsequent steps planned include development and tracking of both customer and business oriented performance goals and measures for FY2005.

MCA, in partnership with the MCAF Council, is in the process of drafting policy guidance and procedures for NBC audit activities. The policy document, entitled "Rules of Engagement for NBC Audit Activities", will provide policies and procedures for use by NBC managers and staff in responding to audits of NBC performed by the OIG, GAO, and public accounting firms. It will define roles and responsibilities as well as describe the audit process from the audit entrance conference to issuance of the final audit report. It will also provide guidance on resolution of audit findings and related audit report recommendations. The target for the document to be completed and approved by the Leadership Team is mid-July.

For more information

Tony Queern

Tony_B_Queern@nbc.gov