The GPRA Modernization Act requires agencies to publicly explain how they ensure the accuracy and reliability of performance information they use to assess progress on their agency priority goals, but GAO has said that some agencies it audited did not do so.
The law requires agencies to report on how performance information was verified and validated; data sources; level of accuracy required for intended use; limitations at the required level of accuracy; and how the agency will compensate for those limits. That information is to be provided to OMB for publication on performance.gov and is to be included in agencies’ annual performance plans and reports.
After looking at performance plans and reports of Agriculture, Defense, Homeland Security, Interior, Labor and NASA, GAO concluded that only DHS described how each agency priority goal met the GPRA information quality requirements.
GAO suggested that agencies look for guidance to the data quality cross-agency working group, established by OMB and the Performance Improvement Council in February 2015. “The group has identified several goals, such as improving the reliability and quality of performance information, and could serve as a vehicle for disseminating good practices in public reporting on data quality,” GAO said.
It also recommended that all six of the agencies work with OMB to describe on performance.gov how they are ensuring the quality of their priority goals’ performance information, and that all except for DHS begin to describe this information in their annual performance plans and reports.
