The Department, along with other USG agencies, submits various data to the Federal Interagency Database Online at www.fido.gov. Included there is the Metric Tracking System (MTS), a performance measurement system that captures key financial management indicators across the Federal Government. The tool’s intent is to provide government managers, Congress, and other stakeholders the information to assess the financial management health of the Federal Government as a whole and for each individual agency. Tracking performance on indicators helps to guide financial management reforms and targets resources to areas where better stewardship of Federal financial resources is needed.
Agency data is published and compared monthly within MTS by the government-wide CFO Council and is available at www.fido.gov/mts/cfo.
In FY 2008, the Department’s rating did not change in five of the nine categories, but fell to red or yellow in four others. We equal the government-wide rating in four categories and rank below the average in five categories.
| Measure and Frequency |
Why Is It Important |
State Sept 2008 |
State Sept 2007 |
Governmentwide Performance Standards |
Governmentwide May 2008 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actual | Rating | Actual | Rating | Fully Successful |
Minimally Successful |
Unsuccessful |
Actual | Rating | ||
| Fund Balance With Treasury - Net Percent Unreconciled [Monthly] | Smaller reconciliation differences translate to greater integrity of financial reports and budget results. | 0.30% |  |
1% | |
< = 2% | > 2% to < = 10% |
> 10% | 0.09% | |
| Percent of Amount in Suspense (Absolute) Greater than 60 Days Old [Quarterly] | Timely reconciliation supports clean audits and accurate financial information. | 36% |  |
15% |  |
< = 10% | > 10% to < = 20% |
> 20% | 18% | |
| Percent of Accounts Receivable from Public Delinquent Over 180 Days [Quarterly] | Actively collecting debt improves management accountability and reduces Treasury borrowing. | 32% | |
53% | |
< = 10% | > 10% to < = 20% |
> 20% | 15% | |
| Percent of Vendor Payments made Electronically [Monthly] | Use of electronic funds transfer saves money, reduces paperwork, and improves cash management. | 91% | |
97% | |
> = 96% | > = 90% to < 96% |
< 90% | 97% | |
| Percent Non-Credit Card Invoices Paid On-Time [Monthly] | Timely payment reduces interest charges and reflects a high degree of accountability and integrity. | 81% | |
84% | |
> = 98% | > = 97% to < 98% |
< 97% | 98% | |
| Interest paid under Prompt Payment Act ($ Interest per Million Dollars of Payments) | Smaller amounts of interest paid per million show that an agency is paying its bills on time which saves money and allows funds to be used for their intended purpose. | $653 per million | |
N/A indicator was changed |
|
< = $200.00 | > $200.01 to < = $300.00 |
>300.01 | $121 per million | |
| Travel Card Delinquency Rates - Individually Billed Accounts [Monthly] | Reducing outstanding travel card balances helps increase rebates to agencies. | 2% | |
2% | |
>= 2% | > 2% to < = 4% |
> 4% | 3% | |
| Travel Card Delinquency Rates - Centrally Billed Account [Monthly] | Reducing outstanding travel card balances helps increase rebates to agencies. | 2% | |
0.0% | |
>= 0% | > 0% to < = 1.5% |
> 1.5% | 4% | |
| Purchase Card Delinquency Rate [Monthly] | Reducing outstanding purchase card balances helps increase rebates to agencies and reduces interest payments. | 0.20% | |
0.1% | |
>= 0% | > 0% to < = 1.5% |
> 1.5% | 1% | |
When Senator Edward Kennedy met with world leaders this past year, he had a Foreign Service officer nearby. When House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton held a hearing this spring on cooperation between the Departments of State and Defense, a foreign service officer was there, prepared to give support and advice. When Senator Chuck Hagel took a hard look at the Balkans, he turned to a foreign service officer on his staff. Who are these FSOs and why are members of Congress turning to them for advice? They are Pearson Fellows, selected from the ranks of the Department of State worldwide FSOs and assigned to a House or Senate office, committee or commission, typically for a year. The program gives Congress a foreign policy perspective and international expertise while the Department benefits through improved communication with and understanding of Congress. Similar programs are sponsored by the American Political Science Association, and by the Brookings Institution for federal civil service employees. Each of these programs assists in our mission of achieving our foreign policy goals. Department of State/State Magazine ~from an article by Andrew Hyde and Deby Jones, Pearsons Fellows, appearing in State Magazine, September, 2008. |
