Science Support

direction on improving Federal program management. Highlights of USGS progress on specific initiatives follows.

Improving Workforce Diversity—The USGS Diversity Plan focuses on women, minorities and people with disabilities. It incorporates much of the Affirmative Employment Plan such as targeted recruitment for under-represented occupations, use of Census data comparisons to determine if the USGS workforce is at parity with similar occupations in the Civilian Labor Force, and specific goals to accomplish change.

Financial Management Improvements - The USGS has undertaken several initiatives to improve financial data and processes. The USGS has implemented the Government-wide standard general ledger in our financial operations. We have implemented the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, and are reporting taxpayer identification information to Treasury on most of our payment vouchers, making most payments electronically, and have referred all eligible delinquent debt to Treasury for collection or offset. Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB) accounting standards and concepts that USGS is actively pursuing include accounting for revenue, managerial cost accounting, and stewardship reporting.

The USGS is also active in DOI financial management initiatives. We have fully implemented the Department-wide object class structure in our financial management system, have significantly improved our on-time payments in support of the DOI timeliness goal, and have implemented the recommendations from the Department's National Performance Review (NPR) travel laboratory. We are working to interface financial data from the new Departmental automated procurement system (IDEAS) and personnel and payroll system (FPPS), as well implementing processing improvements associated with the new DOI government purchase/travel/fleet cards.

USGS is also pursuing internal financial management improvement initiatives. We have improved our budget allocation process, working capital fund policies have been clarified and accountability increased, and quarterly meetings with USGS senior managers maintain a focus on financial management issues. USGS is working to improve our accounting for direct and reimbursable funds. Direct entry of financial transactions will continue to expand throughout USGS, resulting in more timely and accurate posting of transactions. Other USGS financial management initiatives include improving our accounting for property and improving financial reporting.

Interior Department Electronic Acquisition System (IDEAS)— USGS will continue the implementation of the Windows version of IDEAS-PD in FY 1999 with the addition of the Federal Financial System (FFS) interface and web-based electronic requisitioning. USGS responsibilities for FY 2000 will include determining whether or not it will be efficient and effective to install the full suite of IDEAS-PD at additional USGS field sites with procurement authority. It is likely that the full cost for such additional field installations would be borne by USGS. Other FY 2000 activities will include refresher training, database administration adjustments, new reporting requirements, and implementation of upgrades to IDEAS and integrated functions (FFS interface, electronic commerce and web-based requisitioning). An ongoing equipment upgrade/replacement program to keep the procurement workforce's computing capability technologically current, and DOI strategic goals related to acquisition are all expected to be achieved within current base funding for acquisition.

55-301 99-10

Activity Summary Technology Training for Federal Workers (Executive Order 13111, “Using Technology to Improve Training Opportunities for Federal Government Employees") — The USGS recognizes the importance of this issue and looks forward to working with the Department to realize the goals of the Executive Order. We have already made great strides in using technology to meet the training needs of our multi-disciplinary workforce. One example is the USGS operation of a Technology Information Center in Denver which provides hands-on information technology classroom training to USGS and other Federal government employees at cost. The classes reflect the latest training on current technologies, and custom classes are developed for specialized needs upon request. In FY 1998, the Center trained about 2,000 students.

Note: The Program Redirect column reflects the redirection of funding from other program areas.

66,513

Total

Office of Program Support-Corporatelevel support services include the essential functions of financial management, personnel management, equal opportunity programs, general services and office support, security, safety and occupational health, contract negotiation and administration, grant administration, property management, and information systems management. The Office of Program Support (OPS) provides these support services from three regional locations: the USGS National Center in Reston, Virginia; Denver, Colorado; Menlo Park, California; and two field offices in Flagstaff, Arizona and Norcross, Georgia.

Office of Financial Management - The Office administers a bureauwide financial management program to meet the financial processing, accounting, and fiscal information needs of bureau program managers and to support the financial management initiatives and fiscal reporting requirements of the Department of the Interior, the Department of the Treasury, and other agencies.

Office of Personnel - The Office develops and implements comprehensive bureauwide personnel management programs that provide customer service in support of the science mission of the USGS. These programs include staffing, classification, employee relations, ethics, labor relations, human resources automation, employee benefit, and organization and strategic planning.

Office of Equal Opportunity - The Office manages the Equal Opportunity (EO) program for the USGS to ensure a discrimination-free workplace and that all employees and applicants are provided a full and fair opportunity to contribute to the fullest extent of their abilities in pursuing a career in USGS. The Office monitors and enforces all equal opportunity and civil rights laws, regulations, and court decisions through the development, oversight, and evaluation of USGS

Science Support Activity

policies, principles, and practices aimed at promoting equal opportunity in all activities and programs.

Office of Management Services - The Office is responsible for administering bureauwide programs and providing advice, direction, and guidance in the areas of space, facilities, security, property, safety, supply, and other general administrative programs.

Office of Acquisition and Federal Assistance - The Office has bureauwide responsibility for coordination, integration and administration of USGS procurement and federal assistance programs, including formal contracting, grants, cooperative agreements, and purchasing.

Office of Information Services - The Office administers a comprehensive information management program to support the computing, communications, and information technology requirements of the bureau. The Office provides a variety of information systems support services, including operation of bureau-level administrative systems, Internet and Intranet services, and support for bureauwide computer and telecommunications networks, including management of the Department's network, DOINET.

Field Organization - The Regional Service Centers of the Office of Program Support are located in Menlo Park, California, and Denver, Colorado. Field offices are located in Flagstaff, Arizona (reporting to the regional office in Menlo Park) and in Norcross, Georgia (reporting to the Office of Personnel, in Reston). These offices provide personnel, equal opportunity, acquisition management, facilities, property management and general service support, and information technology services for units of the USGS in their respective regions/areas. Functional areas receive programmatic direction from their headquarters counterparts.

Office of the Director- The Director of the USGS reports to the Assistant Secretary--Water and Science, and is responsible for the overall direction and supervision of the Geological Survey. The Director is assisted in the exercise of these responsibilities by an immediate staff which consists of the Deputy Director, Associate Director for Programs, Associate Director for Operations, Senior Advisory Staffs, Regional Directors, Program Division executive and managerial staff, Office Chiefs, and secretarial support. The Directorate's staff:

⚫ advises and consults with the Director on an extensive range of scientific, technical and administrative management issues;

provides liaison with other Federal agencies, the National Academy of Sciences, the American Geological Institute, and other national and international research/scientific organizations;

provides assistance to the Department of Energy on the characterization of the proposed site for disposal of radioactive wastes, on the licensing process for nuclear power plants and on the safety of other critical facilities;

overviews the USGS Emergency Preparedness Plan;

monitors the Bureau's environmental activities, including implementation of and compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and geologic hazards warnings and preparedness;

conducts liaison activities with the Association of American State Geologists, as well as with each of the State Geological organizations; and

maintains affiliations with interstate compacts and associations representing Governors and State, county, and local governments.

Bureau Operations

The Washington Liaison Office — The Office provides a base within the Nation's Capital for USGS senior staff to meet with counterparts in the Department of the Interior and other Federal Agencies, as well as with the public, on matters involving USGS expertise and program interests. The Office serves as a vital link for maintaining the necessary day-to-day relationships with the Department.

Office of Program Planning and Coordination - This Office coordinates the development of Bureau-wide programs (including external coordination); serves as the focal point for the planning, development, evaluation and coordination of broad USGS themes which represent the expression of the bureau's "corporate philosophy and vision," develops plausible scenarios and effective strategies for the formulation and implementation of policies, objectives, programs and plans to achieve the mission of the USGS.

Office of Outreach - This Office is charged with the responsibility to promote, coordinate, and integrate the outreach activities of the USGS; promote a corporate image of the USGS, enhance communication with the USGS concerning outreach; facilitate effective links between audience and customers outside of the USGS and appropriate groups within the USGS; and lead regular evaluations of goals, priorities, and policies related to external affairs in light of customer feedback.

The Office is responsible for advising on policies and procedures for disseminating information about USGS research, programs, activities and products to the public, with an emphasis on enhanced outreach to the general public and specialized audiences through news media and initiation of and participation in special outreach projects and events. In other public outreach activities, the Office coordinates the open houses and other special-event programs and activities. The Office maintains a 7-day-a-week, around-the-clock alert with technical divisions to provide information to news media as quickly as possible about earth hazards and anomalous events such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and floods.

Office of Program Operations (POO) - The Office provides agency-wide policy, guidance, and direction for (1) budget formulation, presentation, and execution; (2) congressional liaison activities, related to the budget; (3) Management Improvement activities such as National Performance Review (NPR), streamlining, Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), management control reviews, and General Accounting Office (GAO) and Inspector General (IG) audit coordination and follow-up; and (4) American Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. The Chief of this Office also serves as Deputy Chief Financial Officer for the Bureau, and provides leadership and direction in a wide range of financial matters.

Congressional Liaison - The Office is responsible for liaison and close coordination among the USGS and the Congress, the Department, and other bureaus for congressional matters. The Staff represents a central source of information for congressional inquiries and furnishes information materials and assistance to the Congress. The staff also provides coordination of the review of legislation for the USGS.