A. Councils and Committees. NOAA’s councils and committees are the focal point for considering NOAA-wide issues (e.g., planning, resource requirements, and policy) in various functional areas. They serve as a forum for reviewing and as appropriate deciding issues, formulating decision briefings, and condensing complex issues and programs into understandable terms and recommendations for decision before presentations to the NEC and NEP.
(1) A link to the terms of reference and responsibilities of each council can be found on the DCO website.
(2) Councils and committees will convene as designated by the chairperson. Each council/committee chair will designate permanent staff to coordinate, archive and maintain records. The staff will include an executive secretariat that will draft and distribute minutes and decision memoranda.
B. NOAA Executive Panel (NEP). The NEP provides information and advice to the Deputy Under Secretary for issues related to NOAA’s day-to-day operations and management, and coordinates and oversees the planning, programming and budgeting process. The NEP serves as the final forum ensuring issues, programs and briefings are condensed into understandable terms and recommendations for decisions before presentation to the NEC.
(1) NEP principals include: DUS (Chair), all Deputy AA’s (including Program Planning and Integration Deputy), Deputy Director NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations, Chief Information Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, and Directors of Workforce Management Office, Program Analysis & Evaluation, and Acquisition and Grants Office.
(2) NEP advisors include: Executive Director to the Deputy Under Secretary, Deputy Directors of Office of Education, Office of General Counsel, International Affairs, Office of Legislative Affairs, Office of Communications, and Military Affairs.
(3) The Decision Coordination Office (DCO) will serve as Executive Secretary to the NEC and NEP.
(4) Goal Team Leads may attend the applicable portion of meetings. Goal Team Leads may sit at the table with Principals during PPBES meetings only. Otherwise, Goal Team Leads may not be seated at the table, unless invited to do so by the Chair.
(5) Depending on topic, Deputy Goal Team Leads, Council Chairs or subject matter experts may attend the applicable portion of the meeting, however prior DCO approval is required.
(6) Under Secretary and Deputy Under Secretary staff will attend meetings as determined by their respective Senior Leadership.
(7) Program Coordination Office representatives may attend the applicable portion of meetings as they deem appropriate; however, DCO must be notified of their intention to attend.
(8) Operating procedures and a process flowchart for the NEP are included in the appendix
C. NOAA Executive Council (NEC). The NEC provides information and advice to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (U/S) for decisions on key NOAA issues (e.g. policy, resources requirement approval, future directions) and to provide a clear and unambiguous record of U/S decisions and directions.
(1) NEC principals include: U/S (Chair), Assistant Secretary, Deputy Under Secretary, Deputy Assistant Secretaries, NOAA Chief of Staff; General Counsel, and all Assistant Administrators, including NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations.
(2) NEC advisors include: Director of Office of Communications; Director of Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA); Chief Information Officer (CIO); Director of Program Analysis and Evaluation; Chief Administrative Officer; Chief Financial Officer; Director of Workforce Management Office; Director of Acquisition and Grants Office; Director of Office of Education; Executive Director to the Deputy Under Secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff.
(3) The Decision Coordination Office will serve as Executive Secretary to the NEC and NEP.
(4) Goal Team Leads may attend the applicable portion of meetings. Goal Team Leads may sit at the table with Principals during PPBES meetings only. Otherwise, Goal Team Leads may not be seated at the table, unless invited to do so by the Chair.
(5) Depending on topic, Deputy Goal Team Leads, Council Chairs or subject matter experts may attend the applicable portion of the meeting, however prior DCO approval is required.
(6) Under Secretary and Deputy Under Secretary staff will attend meetings as determined by their respective Senior Leadership.
(7) Program Coordination Office representatives may attend the applicable portion of meetings as they deem appropriate, however, DCO must be notified of their intention to attend.
(8) Operating procedures and a process flowchart for the NEP are included in the appendix.
A. The Decision Coordination Office (DCO) will serve as Executive Secretary to the NEC and NEP. The DCO will:
Establish meeting agendas, procedures and attendance
Distribute schedule information; prepare, distribute and maintain NEC/NEP proceedings (minutes and NOAA Decision Memorandum)
Maintain and archive a list of outstanding NEP/NEC actions items
In cooperation with Executive Secretariat, track actions to ensure completion
B. Line or Staff Offices assigned actions in a NOAA Decision Memorandum will forward responses via the NOAA controlled correspondence system with a copy to DCO. Responses longer than a page should be forwarded under cover of a one-page summary paper. Tasked line/staff offices are responsible for incorporating NEC/NEP decisions into appropriate NOAA policy documents.
C. NEP and NEC Principals are required to review and comment, as necessary on all NEP and NEC draft meeting minutes.
A. Principal members are expected to attend. If unable to attend, a principal may send an alternate senior executive (empowered to speak for the principal) to the meeting. Prior approval is not required, however; DCO staff should be notified of any substitutions prior to the meeting.
B. Advisors are not required to attend each NEC/NEP meeting, however, they are expected to attend sessions dealing with topics in their functional area. Advisors may not send substitutes unless a lack of representation in their functional area would degrade the effectiveness of the meeting discussion.
C. Depending on topic, Deputy Goal Team Leads, Council Chairs or subject matter experts may attend portions of meetings applicable to their subject matter expertise/interest. Prior approval is required.
D. Presenters are allowed to be accompanied by no more than two subject matter experts regarding their specific presentation/topic. Prior approval is required.
