Document 3Qe7bo25e6LDBDreRoebyE0Mx
(b)(5);Deliber| ative
From:
Weeks, Andria -FS
Sent:
6 Jul 2017 20:17:14 +0000
To:
Blount, Emilee -FS
Cc:
Freeman, John -FS
Subject:
ACTION ITEM: Agency Reform and Restructure plan
Attachments:
FS Workforce Re-Shaping Brief 05-02-17 v2.docx, Agency Reform Plan
Instructions.docx, FS RRTF Data Call Junel3.xlsx
Importance:
High
lee,
I just spoke"
n about some additional proposals for the agency's reshaping/reform/restructure
plan. The followingl
Stems were submitted to the Department as part of the regulatory
reform data call:
|b)(5);Deliberative Process Privilege
OBPA recommended that we include any items we recently submitted for our regulatory reform proposals. Glenn and I discussed reaching out you to prepare proposals for any or all of the following if we want these to be included in the reform plan. The challenge is I need the write-ups by 10am tomorrow as we are planning to brief Angela at Noon so they can be transmitted to NRE for clearance tomorrow. Please confirm with John Freeman and I whether you will be submitting any of these proposals and then we'll look out for them in the morning.
Thanks,
Andria Weeks Acting Chief of Staff Forest Service
Washington Office, Business Operations
f: 202-649-1161 aweeks@fs.fed.us 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250 www.fs.fed.us
Caring for the land and serving people
U.S. Forest Service
Briefing Paper Business Operations Deputy Area
Contact: J. Lenise Lago, Deputy Chief for Business Operations Phone: 202-205-1707 Email: llago@fs.fed.us
Issue: Forest Service Response and Approach to Workforce Reshaping and Reform
Background: The Executive Order on a Comprehensive Plan for Re-Organizing the Executive Branch (March 13, 2017) and subsequent OMB Memo M-17-22: Comprehensive Plan for Reforming the Federal Government and Reducing the Federal Civilian Workforce (April 12, 2017) require agencies to initiate strategic workforce reforms that fulfill hiring freeze guidance and align budget blueprint proposals. Workforce reforms should result in a leaner, more accountable government that effectively and efficiently deliver programs of the highest need to the public.
Action: To accomplish these objectives, the Forest Service formed a Reform and Restructure Team to respond the Executive Order and OMB Guidance on workforce re-shaping. The team is co-led by the Deputy Chief for Business Operations and Region 6 Regional Forester and includes leaders from National Forest System, Research and Development, State and Private Forestry, Human Resources and Budget.
The Reform and Restructure Team identified four thematic areas for exploring re-shaping opportunities:
1. Redesign the customer service delivery functions across program areas: Change service delivery processes to be more customer-oriented, with a focus on what makes good business sense and limiting scope to policies and processes that are within the agency's purview/span of control. Potential functional areas could include:
(b)(5);Deliberative Process Privilege
2. Consider geographic combinations, along with Service First Opportunities: Combine
Forest Service offices/functions that serve similar geographic footprints; provide ojppportiunities
for shared services in these locations (e.gJ(b)(5);Deliberative Process Privilege
Jetc.). Identify
and replicate best practices from Service First authorities and experiences.
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3. Create service centers for excellence: For technical skills where demand and surge varies, stablish concentrated centers of excellence that can serve the entire agency:
PotenfiaTareas for consideration include: a.r
May 2,2017
b. ;b)(5);Deliberative Process Privilege c. d. e. 4. Streamline policies and processes that could maximize efficiency and effectiveness Identify targeted areas where large scale process improvements could generate savings or efficiencies: Potential examples include: a. (b)(5);Deliberative Process Privilege b. Next Steps: 1. Pending USDA guidance on workforce re-shaping, establish teams of subject matter
experts to develop more detailed proposals associated with 1-4. 2. Use FTE trends and FTE changes in 2018 to drive any future VERA/VSIP requests.
May 2,2017
EXHIBIT-AGENCY REFORM PLAN
The Agency Reform Plan provide an overview of proposals submitted with regard to the OMB-signed memorandum, Comprehensive Plan for Reforming the Federal Government and Reducing the Federal Civilian Workforce.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS On April 12, 2017, OMB signed a memorandum for a Comprehensive Plan for Reforming the Federal Government and Reducing the Federal Civilian Workforce. This memorandum provides agencies guidance on fulfilling the requirements of the Hiring Freeze Presidential Memorandum (PM) and the Reorganization Executive Order (EO) while aligning those initiatives with the Federal budget and performance planning processes. To access the Reform Memorandum please visit the following page: https://www.whitehouse.qov/sites/whitehouse.qov/files/omb/memoranda/2017/M-17-22.pdf
The Office of the Secretary has established a USDA Reform Task Force made up of representatives from the programmatic mission areas and Departmental staff offices. The Reform Task Force will work to develop crosscutting reforms, select proposals submitted through this process, and make final reform recommendations to the Office of the Secretary. The selected reform proposals will be included in USDA's Reform Plan submission to OMB in September 2017.
Consideration should be given to reform proposals that increase the effectiveness of your agency's organizational structure and enhance the delivery of USDA's programs. All submittals need to include a description of how the proposed reform will improve customer experience for USDA's constituents. Lastly, in an effort to ensure consistency, agencies that submitted administrative (non-regulatory) reform proposal through the Regulatory Reform Task Force are encouraged to resubmit their proposal using the template below.
USDA agencies and Departmental staff offices providing reform proposals should use the following template:
USDA agencies and Departmental staff offices providing reform proposals should use the following template:
1. Proposal Name:
2. Scope
Agency specific or Departmental
3. Type (select one)
Eliminating activities Restructuring or merging activities Improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness Workforce management (improve performance, increase accountability, and/or reduce cost/size)
4. USDA Strategic Goals
Identify which of the new USDA Strategic Goals (see Appendix A) will the reform proposal help achieve:
5. Proposal-at-a-Glance
Please describe this initiative using 3-4 bullet points. This will be used to communicate initiatives at a high-level.
6. Description Short explanation of the existing issue and rationale for the proposed change. (1-2 paragraphs)
What are you proposing? What problem are you trying to solve?
7. Justification Projected result/outcomes, both positive and negative. (1-2 paragraphs)
Why is this good government? How will this lead to efficiencies, cost savings, and/or workforce reductions? How will your reform improve customer experience for USDA's constituents?
8. Supporting Evidence (1 paragraph)
What evidence can be cited to support this proposal? Agencies should consider recommendations outlined in relevant GAO and OIG audits and USDA Management Challenges Report while developing reform proposal.
9. Proposal Implementation and Time Horizon to Start Action
Timelines and risks, including administrative challenges; capacity needed for implementation; and any impacts on personnel, physical assets, and other agencies, where applicable. (1-2 paragraphs)
Select: FY 2017, FY 2018, FY 2019, FY 2020, Beyond. For legislative proposals, agencies can consider the "start" when the idea is submitted to Congress through the President's FY 2019 Budget in February 2018.
10. Measuring Success (1-2 paragraphs)
What current or new metrics and milestones will assist the Department in measuring the impact of this proposal?
11. Affected Stakeholders (1 paragraph)
How will this reform affect internal and external stakeholders?
12. Mechanism: primary mechanism for change category: Statutory, Regulatory, Administrative (1-2 paragraphs)
Analysis of underlying statutory, regulatory, and other legal authorities at issue, litigation risk, and whether the proposal requires statutory or regulatory changes or can be done administratively. If the proposal requires legislation, agencies should note if the legislative change would be necessary in appropriations language or in authorization language.
13. Budget and FTE changes (1-2 paragraphs)
Provide a description of any budget and FTE changes the reform proposal would require. If this proposal requires additional funding or changes in FTEs, agencies and staff offices should integrate this request for additional funding in the Justification exhibit.
14. Implications for other agencies (optional) Summary of how other USDA agencies would be impacted, if at all. If appropriate, provide brief explanation of how other federal agencies may be impacted.
