Theme Implementation Plan Template

Document Revision History

The following table details the most recent changes incorporated into the template below.

Page Number Revision Descriptioniii Final Theme Implementation Plan formatting information section added.

3-5 Instructions in red, italicized font added for clarification.2-7 Introductory text and captions added to all tables.

Background information for completing the Theme Implementation Plan

The Theme Implementation Plan template was approved in October 2016. The next version, revised in January 2017, made changes to human resources reporting guidance, minor editorial updates, and added details on availability of the completed plans via the GeoPlatform.gov. The March 2017 revision added a cover page to include date of submission. The October 2017 version added a Theme Progress Report table. The January 2018 version added instructional text in red italicized font for reference when filling out the sections. That text will be deleted from final Adobe PDF versions posted to the public-facing GeoPlatform.gov Community pages but will be retained in Word format for future use. New text was also added to introduce the tables, along with captions. The current version updated in March 2018 updated some of the links to sites and documents that changed. A table documenting the most recent revision history is located above.

Each NGDA Theme has developed a Theme Strategic Plan that includes information from existing agency plans and encompasses the entire Theme. These can be found on the GeoPlatform.gov NGDA Theme Community pages (https://www.geoplatform.gov/communities/). The Theme Strategic Plans are intended to facilitate management of the Theme more broadly and as required by OMB Circular A–16 Supplemental Guidance. The FGDC Steering Committee identified an additional 2016-17 FGDC priority for each Theme to develop a Theme Implementation Plan that documents and assesses Theme Strategic Plan activities while continuing to advance geospatial portfolio management. Theme Implementation Plans need to report on progress in achieving goals and objectives for each year as well as establish activities for the next year and are due October 31 of each year. Each Theme is responsible for reviewing the Theme Strategic Plan annually and updating it if needed to reflect evolving mission requirements with the most current plan posted no later than October 31 of each year. Theme Implementation Plans should align with Theme Strategic Plans if any changes are made. The Theme Implementation Plan template below provides guidance on what information should be taken into consideration. As with the Theme Strategic Plans, the implementation plan should incorporate any existing implementation plans that agencies have already developed. Theme Leads should begin thinking about the content of their plans taking into account, but not limited to, addressing the external factors, challenges, and opportunities identified in the Theme Strategic Plan, the requirements in OMB Circular A–16 Supplemental Guidance, and the topics that the GAO has identified as expected components of a strategic plan, including:

Theme Implementation Plan Template Background (Rev. 3/13/2018) Page i

(1) The development of partnership programs with states, tribes, academia, the private sector, other federal agencies, and localities that meet the needs of users; (2) Standards, metadata, and the clearinghouse needs; (3) A timetable for the development for the Theme; and(4) Human and financial resource needs.

For (4) above - human and financial resource needs, Theme Leads should include an estimate of roles (e.g., Theme Lead, Theme Lead Advisor, NGDA Coordinator, etc.) and Full-time Equivalent (FTE) that is inclusive of requirements needed for managing the NGDA Theme. This does not include the resources required for the responsible agency to develop and maintain the NGDA Dataset(s). The minimum information to report is the Theme Lead’s time spent on Theme management as a decimal FTE.

For example, the Theme Lead’s estimate might include activities such as attending Theme-related meetings, developing Theme Strategic Plans and Implementation Plans, reviewing change management of NGDA personnel roles or NGDA Datasets, reviewing NGDA reports, reporting to the FGDC Steering Committee, addressing any risk associated with Theme management responsibilities, etc. Other Theme management activities that could be estimated include a Theme Advisor’s time needed to review Theme Strategic Plans or a Theme Coordinator’s time for reviewing NGDA metadata records prior to publishing.

The “Human and Financial Resources Needed for Theme Management” table below provides a way to report the roles and resources needed for NGDA Theme management. This reporting is based on the Program Management investment definition as described in Table 1 below. The Theme Implementation Plans only need to include information on the roles and decimal FTE that is inclusive of requirements needed for managing the NGDA Theme.

Table 1: Program Management Investment definition, Geospatial Investment Definitions for Tracking and Reporting Geospatial Investment Costs (April 2016) .

Program Management

Includes a suite of activities that support the overall management of geospatial data within an agency including: Planning and development of geospatial data, policies, guidance, enterprise architecture (e.g., business process to geospatial component mapping), governance (e.g., creation of geospatial steering committee and associated charter and standard operating procedures), Standards (e.g., FGDC/ISO standards), Strategic Plans, and securing any needed budget or contractual resources in support of the program (potentially to include Contracting Officer's Representatives (CORs) duties). It also includes portfolio management , scheduling responsibilities, management of agreements, and program management coordination across operating units performing geospatial activities. Note: for the Theme Implementation Plan, this includes the federal government FTE costs associated with NGDA Theme management-related activities.

A summary table that provides the status of progress against previously identified Theme Strategic Plan goals and objectives is also provided as part of this Implementation Plan and is incorporated into the Theme Summary Report.

Theme Leads should also coordinate the development and review of the Theme Implementation Plans among the Dataset Managers, Executive Champions, Theme Lead Agencies, and other vested interest NGDA personnel. This will help facilitate coordination for Theme activities that affect multiple agencies.

Theme Implementation Plan Template Background (Rev. 3/13/2018) Page ii

The Theme Implementation Plan Report will be submitted once a year. The goal is to provide an assessment of activities at the end of each fiscal year that the Theme Strategic Plan covers. The reports will be submitted by each Theme Lead to the FGDC Office of the Secretariat no later than October 31 of each year. The FGDC Office of the Secretariat will coordinate with the Theme Leads to facilitate completion of both the Theme Strategic Plans and Theme Implementation Plans.

The Theme Implementation Plan template will be available within the Geoplatform.gov Theme Lead Community. Once approved, the Theme Implementation Plans should be available in Adobe PDF format via the respective Geoplatform.gov NGDA Theme Community pages. Additionally, a Word format version will be stored in the GeoPlatform.gov NGDA Collaboration Community (NCC), login required, listed under the Reports and Dashboards page. As Theme Implementation Plans are updated, previous versions will also be available under the Reports and Dashboards page.

Final Theme Implementation Plan formatting information

1. Agency and other acronyms should be spelled out for first use or otherwise defined.

2. Text within brackets (e.g. < Insert Text >) should be replaced with Theme-specific information and the brackets deleted. The brackets are red to help identify them.

3. The template background and formatting information on pages i-iii and any instructions identified by red italicized font throughout the template may be left in any drafts submitted to the NGDA Team. Once the TIP is finalized and approved, the NGDA Team will delete pages i-iii and the red instruction text for the final publicly-accessible Adobe PDF version posted on www.GeoPlatform.gov. The template background pages and instructions will remain in the final Word version posted to the GeoPlatform NGDA Collaboration Community (NCC) page (login required).

4. The NGDA Team will review final drafts for formatting consistency, and will create final versions for Theme Lead approval. The NGDA Team will upload final Word and PDF versions and will return a copy to the Theme Lead.

Theme Implementation Plan Template Background (Rev. 3/13/2018) Page iii

<INSERT Theme Name> Theme Implementation Plan Report Page 1

Theme Implementation Plan for <Insert Name> Theme

<Insert Lead Agency Name>

Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)

<Insert Date>

<Insert Theme Name> Theme FY<Insert YEAR> Implementation Plan Report

OverviewAs part of meeting the requirements under OMB Circular A–16 Supplemental Guidance and OMB Circular A-16 Appendix E - NGDA Data Themes, Definitions, and Lead Agencies for NGDA Portfolio Management and NGDA Theme Management, NGDA Themes Leads for a Theme, in coordination with associated NGDA Dataset Managers, have developed Theme Strategic Plans and corresponding implementation plans for each Theme in the NGDA Portfolio. This report provides information on implementing the goals, objectives, and actions outlined in the Theme’s Strategic Plan (link below). The report includes information on Theme Personnel (Table 1), National Geospatial Data Asset (NGDA) Datasets associated with the Theme (Table 2), and the human and financial resources needed to manage the Theme (Table 3). Table 4 provides a status update on progress made in in the current reporting period toward meeting Theme Strategic Plan goals and objectives. Table 5 provides details on the Theme Implementation Plan.

Theme Strategic Plan<Insert link to the plan>

Theme PersonnelTheme personnel play a vital role in the operation and maintenance of a Theme. They are “individuals who provide interdepartmental leadership and coordination at the NGDA Theme level. They work with component NGDA Dataset Managers to develop standards and provide guidance. The NGDA Theme Lead, or designee, chairs the NGDA Theme’s Thematic Committee and manages the annual process of providing NGDA Dataset collaboration and funding recommendations to the FGDC Steering Committee for those NGDA Datasets within their NGDA Theme. Additionally, the NGDA Theme Lead reports to the Executive NGDA Theme Champion and the FGDC Coordination Group on the NGDA Theme’s activities and investments (both current and planned).” Table 1 provides a summary of current Theme Personnel followed by Table 2 that lists the NGDA Datasets that comprise the Theme.

Theme Personnel Theme Lead (Co-Leads): Theme Lead Agency(ies):Executive Theme Champion (s) : Executive Champion Agency (ies) :

Table 1. Personnel Involved in Theme Management.

<INSERT Theme Name> Theme Implementation Plan Report Page 2

<Insert Theme Name> Theme NGDA Datasets NGDA AgencyNGDA 1 NGDA Agency 1NGDA 2 NGDA Agency 2NGDA n NGDA Agency n

Table 2. NGDA Datasets within the Theme.

Human and Financial Resources Needed for Theme ManagementThe following table provides an estimate of resources needed for managing this Theme. It includes different activities, the roles that support them, as well as an estimated decimal Full Time Equivalent (FTE) and FTE grade. This estimate does not include the resources required for the agency to develop and maintain the NGDA Dataset(s) that make up the Theme to meet the agency’s core mission requirements.

[INSTRUCTIONS: At a minimum, only the first line of the table, which identifies the NGDA Theme Lead’s Theme management activities, identified as a decimal FTE is required to be reported in this initial iteration of Theme Implementation Plan. Rows may be added or deleted as needed. Update the Reporting Period for current year start and end dates (month/year). Note: These instructions may be left in the final Word document submission and future updates. They will be removed by the NGDA Team for final formatting of PDF document published to the public Geoplatform.gov site.]

Reporting Period for Human and Financial Resources1: <Insert Start Month/Year - End Month/Year>

Description of Theme Management ActivitiesRole

(Theme Lead, co-Theme Lead, NGDA Coordinator,

other as specified)

FTE2 FTE Grade

NGDA Theme management (e.g., attend meetings, review NGDA documents, develop Theme Strategic Plans, etc.) [Repeat row for co-Theme Leads]

Theme Lead

Other Theme administration activities (e.g., <Specify type of activities>)

Table 3. Human and Financial Resources Needed for Theme Management.

Progress against Goals and ObjectivesThe following table shows the progress status made toward achieving the Theme’s Strategic Plan goals and objectives since the last reporting period. Status categories include 'Not Started' for those activities that have not gotten underway in the reporting period; 'In Progress' for those activities underway which

1 Reporting period should align with October 1 – September 30 and be submitted by October 31. 2 A full-time employee was available a maximum of 1952 hours during the inclusive period of October 1 –September 30; assuming a Monday-Friday schedule with 8-hour workdays and not counting Federal Holidays. The FTE was determined by taking actual number of hours worked in support of Theme Management divided by 1952 hours, rounded to the nearest 0.01.

<INSERT Theme Name> Theme Implementation Plan Report Page 3

will continue into the next year; 'Complete' for the activities finished, or ‘Recurring (completed for the current reporting period).

[INSTRUCTIONS: Theme Leads should update the table with one of the following status categories: 'Not Started' for those activities that have not gotten underway; 'In Progress' for those activities underway which will continue into the next year; 'Complete' for the activities finished in this time frame. Additionally, if activities supporting the goal and objective are completed in the current year and will reoccur again on an annual basis, they are designated 'Recurring (completed for <ADD CURRENT YEAR>)'. The highlighted date in the table title should be updated to reflect the current reporting period. Lines in the table can be added or deleted to align with the number of goals and objectives identified for this Theme. Note: These instructions may be left in the final Word document submission and future updates. They will be removed by the NGDA Team for final formatting of PDF document published to the public Geoplatform.gov site.]

Summary of Goals and Objectives undertaken during <ADD CURRENT YEAR> StatusGoal 1: Objective 1.1: Objective 1.2: Objective 1.n:Goal 2:Objective 2.1: Objective 2.2: Objective 2.n: Goal 3: Objective 3.1: Objective 3.2:Objective 3.n:Goal N:Objective N.1: Objective N.2:Objective N.n:

Table 4. Theme Implementation Plan Progress Status.

<INSERT Theme Name> Theme Implementation Plan Report Page 4

Theme Implementation PlanThe following table provides details for achieving Theme Strategic Plan goals and objectives over the multi-year planning period. These include roles and responsibilities, specific actions, milestones, performance indicators and projected completion dates.

[INSTRUCTIONS: Report Theme Strategic Plan goals and anticipated outcomes, objectives and Agency and/or stakeholders involved, and projected completion date. Describe all actions that will be taken to support the objective including milestones, performance indicators, and responsible party. Under the gray bar, list specific tasks/activities that have been undertaken by an Agency and/or Stakeholder during the identified reporting period by fiscal year. Repeat the table or portion of the table for each goal, each objective within a goal, and each action within an objective as needed. Note: These instructions may be left in the final Word document submission and future updates. They will be removed by the NGDA Team for final formatting of PDF document published to the public Geoplatform.gov site.]

Goal 1:

Objective 1.1:Agency and/or Stakeholders Involved:Anticipated Outcome:

Actions(Description of

discrete activities)

Milestones(A significant change in

development with associated date)

Performance Indicators

(A metric to assess progress of the action)

Action Responsibility

(Agency, individuals, and/or groups leading the action)

Projected Completion Date

(FY)

1.1.1 1.1.21.1.31.1.41.1.nAgency and/or Stakeholder

Activity through FY <ADD Year, Quarter>

Objective 1.2:Agency and/or Stakeholders Involved:Anticipated Outcome:

Actions(Description of

discrete activities)

Milestones(A significant change in

development with associated date)

Performance Indicators

(A metric to assess progress of the action)

Action Responsibility

(Agency, individuals, and/or groups leading the action)

Projected Completion Date

(FY)

1.2.1 1.2.21.2.31.2.4

<INSERT Theme Name> Theme Implementation Plan Report Page 5

1.2.n

Agency and/or Stakeholder

Activity through FY <ADD Year, Quarter>

Goal 2:

Objective 2.1:Agency and/or Stakeholders Involved:Anticipated Outcome:

Actions(Description of

discrete activities)

Milestones(A significant change in

development with associated date)

Performance Indicators

(A metric to assess progress of the action)

Action Responsibility(Agency, individuals,

and/or groups leading the action)

Projected Completion Date

(FY)

2.1.1 2.1.22.1.32.1.42.1.nAgency and/or Stakeholder

Activity through FY <ADD Year, Quarter>

Objective 2.2:Agency and/or Stakeholders Involved:Anticipated Outcome:

Actions(Description of

discrete activities)

Milestones(A significant change in

development with associated date)

Performance Indicators

(A metric to assess progress of the action)

Action Responsibility(Agency, individuals,

and/or groups leading the action)

Projected Completion Date

(FY)

2.2.1 2.2.22.2.32.2.42.2.nAgency and/or Activity through FY <ADD Year, Quarter>

<INSERT Theme Name> Theme Implementation Plan Report Page 6

Stakeholder

Table 5. Theme Implementation Plan.

<INSERT Theme Name> Theme Implementation Plan Report Page 7