The Federal Advisory Boards Program provides analytical services to federal advisory boards in their mission to develop innovative solutions to technological, programmatic, operational, managerial and policy problems. As the federal government tries to cope with complex requirements and constraints, federal advisory boards serve as a tool for the affected agencies to receive independent, innovative, current and expert advice, and hence provides the SA-Policy and Strategy Division an opportunity to shape important recommendations addressing agencies' policies, organizations, programs and strategies. From this support, the Division is able to engage leading area experts on major topics of concern to federal agencies.
Federal advisory boards respond to an array of concerns expressed by the president, agency secretaries and congress. These activities require a broad range of support tools and methodologies. SA has developed cross cutting capabilities and supported federal advisory boards. Specifically, SA uses:
Access to high quality, objective scientific and technical expertise. SA uses the expertise of recognized technology consultants, former high-ranking DoD officials, and SA-Policy and Strategy Division highly qualified and experienced staff.
An understanding of the requirements federal advisory committees are addressing in their deliberations. SA has unique experience gained through supporting a wide spectrum of senior S&T, organizational and board agency policy formulation efforts.
Analytical tools, models and methods that can help organize expert opinions and synthesize their inputs into actionable recommendations. SA uses a number of proven tools and methods to gather expert opinions and judgments most useful to science and technology decision-making.
Access to timely and accurate information for programmatic analysis and decision-making.
Access to facilities and corporate resources for meeting support, including high quality graphics preparation and data.
The Policy and Analyses division provides the following services in support of federal advisory committees:
Analytical Input
Conduct archival analysis of previous studies and assessments relevant to deliberations. Research public and private sources for data relevant to the charter or terms of reference. Recommend and provide copies of previous research for review by members. Make recommendations as to relevancy of previous research.
Identify key issues of previous studies. Identify those issues that have historical precedent, and determine relevancy to current study. Conduct qualitative and/or quantitative analysis on key issues. This includes, but is not limited to, short term quick responses and long term analysis of key issues.
Summarize findings and recommendations of relevant studies and evaluate the implementation success of the various recommendations made by each. Research to determine systemic cause of failure of any implementation.
Prepare point papers for use by the committee. Provide issues papers to members for comment. Coordinate and consolidate responses. Provide summary of comments.
Employ experience and lessons learned from the support of different federal advisory committees to apply to future support.
Facilitation of Deliberations
Prepare plan of action and milestones for each client. Recommend methodologies/plan of action for execution. Determine critical dates and milestones. Provide calendar of events for each client.
Coordinate and prepare meeting agendas and report outlines. Coordinate relevant briefings for committee members. Provide meeting agenda to committee members prior to meeting date. Prepare minutes of committee meetings for approval by committee chair.
Facilitate communications among members, government personnel, and invited guests and speakers.
Maintain reference material for each committee to include, but not limited to, issue papers, draft reports, briefings to members, meeting minutes, report summaries, final reports, and list of attendees at meetings. And other material as required by FACA regulations.
Provide administrative, security and facilities support.
Preparation of Briefings and Final Report
Prepare interim briefings and reports as directed by the client. Provide adequate copies to support briefing. Summarize results of briefings and disseminate to members.
Prepare final report with input from the Chair and members of the committee.
