This performance indicator measures the estimated number of jobs created and retained, by communities and regions, attributable to EDA investments made to support the travel and tourism sectors.

This performance indicator measures the estimated sum of private investment leveraged, by communities and regions, attributable to the EDA investment in/to underserved communities and populations.

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.

Seaports with access to Physical Oceanographic Real-Time Systems (PORTS®) data move vessels and their cargo more safely and efficiently, and this measure tracks the number of top U.S. seaports that have access to PORTS® data. To create a list of the Nation’s top 175 seaports, NOS selected the top 152 ports by international tonnage, accounting for more than 99.9% of all direct imports and exports by tonnage in 2016. NOS added to this list 23 seaports that are critical to coastal military installations, the Nation’s energy supply, or commercial marine fisheries landings.

This measure shows the average number of days to complete an informal ESA Section 7 consultation. Federal agencies must consult with NOAA when any project or action might affect an ESA-listed marine species or a critical habitat. The process begins as informal consultation, but if it is determined that the action is likely to adversely affect a listed species and/or its critical habitat, the consultation must be formal. A large majority of consultations are handled informally.

Changes to regime control lists have been agreed to by the members of the multilateral regimes, who are the U.S. export control partners. If those changes result in tighter controls, they must be implemented to address national security or proliferation concerns, and if they result in liberalizations, they must be implemented to ensure that U.S. industry is not disadvantaged vis-à-vis our allies. Therefore, it is important to refer the draft multilateral changes for interagency review in three months or less from plenary meeting dates in order to meet our multilateral obligations, maximize U.S. competitiveness, and enable economic growth for American industries, workers, and consumers. Effective and efficient adaptation of export controls advances responsible economic growth and trade while protecting American security.

The measure captures the count of significant and discrete NOAA research and development products that have transitioned to application at operational U.S. weather services and in the U.S. weather commercial sector. In addition, these weather products support NOAA contributions to the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017.

The number of new and existing minority business enterprises (MBE) assisted through an MBDA program. A MBE is a business enterprise that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more socially or economically disadvantaged individual; and the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more socially or economically disadvantaged individuals.

The lower this measure is the better, so being below the target is exceeded and above the target is not met. Visibility and cloud ceiling forecasts are critical for aircraft safety and efficient operations. When visibility or cloud ceilings are low, pilots rely on instruments to navigate instead of visual reconnaissance. The Federal Aviation Administration establishes Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) thresholds—visibility less than three statute miles and/or cloud ceilings at, or below, 1000 feet—for safety. NWS assesses the quality of IFR threshold forecasts in response to these requirements. Fundamental statistical metrics, specifically Probability of Detection (POD) and False Alarm Ratio (FAR), are used to track IFR forecast performance. Probability of Detection (POD), also known as Accuracy, is a ratio that describes the number of times IFR is correctly forecasted compared to the total number of IFR occurrences. FAR is a ratio that describes the number of IFR forecasts when IFR was not observed compared to the total number of forecast attempts. These two metrics must always be used in conjunction, as one can be improved at the expense of the other. Greater accuracy and a minimized FAR result in safer flights and fewer flight delays; conversely, poorer accuracy and an increased FAR result in a greater incidence of unnecessary flight delays.

*Please also note that a FAR is the number of false alarms per the total number of warnings. So if a FAR actual is higher than the target, then the target has not been met. If the actual is the same number or less, then it has been met or exceeded.