AGAR ADVISORY

 

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
OFFICE OF PROCUREMENT AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

AGAR ADVISORY NO. 87.

 

USDA Federal Procurement Data Quality Plan

 

INTRODUCTION:  This Agriculture Acquisition Regulation (AGAR) Advisory cancels AGAR Advisory 84, dated October 15, 2007.  The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued a new memorandum, Improving Acquisition Data Quality– FY2008 FPDS Data, dated May 09, 2008, entailing new guidance and requirements concerning the USDA Verification and Validation process.

 

The purpose of this Agriculture Acquisition Regulation (AGAR) Advisory is to implement this new policy and procedure of the verification and validation of the Federal Procurement Data submitted to GSA to comply with the Office of Federal Procurement Policy’s (OFPP) directive that Federal Agencies verify and validate the accuracy of the information entered into the Federal Procurement Data System-Next Generation (FPDS-NG). 

 

SUMMARY:    Review of USDA’s data certification process is essential for effective management and to ensure that the data submitted into FPDS-NG is accurate. OMB has called on the agencies to take additional steps to verify and validate the accuracy of the data entered into the FPDS-NG system.  In accordance with the policy issued by OMB, Chief Acquisition Officers (CAOs) must establish requirements for ensuring that the fiscal year 2008 FPDS-NG data reflect accurate and timely contract information.  To that end, USDA has developed a new process for the submission of its Annual Statement of Verification and Validation that must be submitted to OFPP on an annual basis.  This new process is effective July 15, 2008. 

 

ACTION: A copy of USDA’s FPDS-NG Data Quality Plan summary is attached.  Agencies shall take action as required by the plan to ensure that the fiscal year 2008 FPDS-NG data reflect accurate and timely contract information. 

 

If you have questions regarding this advisory, please contact Todd Repass, Chief, PPD via email at Todd.Repass@da.usda.gov or by phone at (202) 690-1060; or send an email to procurement.policy@da.usda.gov.

This advisory is available at http://www.usda.gov/procurement/policy/advisories.html.

EXPIRATION DATE:  This advisory will remain in effect until cancelled.