The indicator reflects how well the focus area of the manufacturing USA (formerly National Network for Manufacturing Innovation) Institutes matches a real national need and is intended to measure the extent to which the industrial partners perceive that they are receiving value from the existence of the Institute. Non-Federal partners dedicate resources when they believe that there will be economic benefit. Non-Federal sources include industry partners of all sizes, state and local governments, economic development entities, institutions of higher education, private organizations and individuals. Investment includes cash and in-kind resources provided.

This indicator captures the timely completion of all AD/CVD determinations associated with on-going investigations, reviews (including administrative, new shipper and changed circumstance reviews), scope, and circumvention inquiries conducted pursuant to U.S. laws and regulations. The indicator will increase certainty within the trade community as to which importers will be liable for the payment of antidumping and/or countervailing duties, the amount of the potential duties owed, and when those duties will be collected. It will also signal to domestic producers the level of potential relief provided to offset the unfair trading practices of foreign producers/exporters and governments identified in the context of an AD/CVD proceeding.

Tracks the USPTO’s efforts in relation to prioritizing countries of interest for purposes of improved IP protection and enforcement, capacity building, and legislative reform, including creation of country/region strategic plans
and specific action plans.

This measure captures the number of domestic and foreign firms, as well as domestic Economic Development Organizations, assisted by the Department of Commerce to attract inward investment into the United States. Commerce serves as the co-chair for the interagency Investment Working Group and is the lead coordinator of investment promotion across the USG.

This measure captures a range of efforts by NOAA’s Aquaculture Program that together will lead to a more efficient federal permitting process. These efforts include: working with federal partners under the White House/OSTP's Subcommittee on Aquaculture to coordinate and streamline inter-agency permitting, working with industry partners to establish and manage offshore aquaculture pilot projects, conducting spatial analysis and developing siting tools, developing engineering solutions, efforts to assess and reduce risk (e.g., entanglement) from aquaculture operations, conducting programmatic environmental reviews to reduce burden on individual applicants, and drafting/revising guidance to permit applicants to improve application quality. We will also continue to support, as requested, any Congressional initiative to develop aquaculture legislation.

This measure evaluates Global Markets’ effectiveness in helping companies achieve their export objectives. Global Markets offers U.S. companies a robust set of capabilities to help them achieve their international exporting goals, whether those goals are to set up an overseas distribution channel, gain easier access to challenging markets, or meet additional foreign buyers for their goods. Global Markets focuses on understanding clients’ exporting needs, and providing services to meet those needs.

This measure shows the number of environmental reviews (ESA Section 7 formal consultation, MMPA incidental harassment authorization, EFH consultation) that exceed regulatory, statutory, or otherwise agreed-upon deadlines. Under the ESA and MSA, Federal agencies must consult with NOAA when any project or action might affect an ESA-listed marine species or a critical habitat. Under the MMPA, NMFS issues incidental harassment authorizations, which allow for the otherwise prohibited incidental “take” of marine mammals resulting from lawful activities (such as military readiness training, seismic surveys, or coastal construction).

This performance indicator measures the dollar amount of EDA grants which help communities and regions be better positioned for foreign direct investment.

Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) was established by the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 and provides for day-for-day adjustment of patent term (i.e., the period of time a patent is in force) for certain USPTO administrative delays (“the 14-4-4-4-36 timeframes”) for certain patent applications.  The specified timeframes are to:  issue an Office Action within 14 months after application filing, respond to a reply or appeal within four months, act on the application within four months after a decision from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) or from a Federal court, and issue the patent within four months after payment of the issue fee. Additionally, a 36-month timeframe applies if the USPTO does not issue a patent within three years of the filing date or national stage commencement, with certain exceptions.  Further, time consumed by interference or derivation proceedings, delays caused by placing the application under a secrecy order under 35 U.S.C. 181, or time consumed by a successful appellate review may result in positive patent term adjustment (PTA). Any positive PTA is offset by any period that an applicant failed to engage in reasonable efforts to conclude prosecution. This measure reports the PTA for all mailed actions.

This measure is the percentage of applications reviewed meeting the criteria for decision making conducted on random sample of applications including first office actions to determine the soundness of decision-making under the Trademark Act.