Every major federal agency publishes a strategic plan describing its mission, goals and objectives over several years. These documents are required under the Government Performance and Results Act, as updated by the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010. They are public, usually free to download from agency websites, and widely overlooked by contractors. That is a missed opportunity, because they explain an agency’s priorities in its own words.
What strategic plans contain
A typical agency strategic plan includes the agency’s mission statement, a set of strategic goals and objectives, and descriptions of how the agency plans to achieve them. Many include priority goals, the challenges the agency faces and how it will measure progress. Agencies also publish annual performance plans and reports that track results against those goals.
Strategic plans are generally updated on a regular cycle tied to presidential terms, so check the date of the plan you are reading and look for the most recent version.
Why contractors should read them
Program and contracting staff use these goals to justify budgets and acquisitions. When your firm describes its value in terms that connect to those goals, you are speaking the agency’s language. Strategic plans can help you:
- Identify which missions and offices are most likely to grow
- Understand the problems the agency says it must solve
- Learn the vocabulary the agency uses for its own work
- Prepare relevant questions for meetings and industry days
- Write proposals that connect your approach to mission outcomes
How to read one efficiently
You do not need to read every page. Start with the mission statement and the list of strategic goals. Then focus on the objectives most related to your capabilities, and note any mention of challenges, such as aging systems, workforce gaps or service delivery issues. Those challenges often turn into requirements.
Next, look at the agency’s annual performance report to see where it is meeting targets and where it is falling short. Areas where an agency is struggling may be the areas where it seeks outside support.
Finally, connect what you read with other sources. Compare strategic goals with the agency’s budget justification and procurement forecast. When all three point in the same direction, you have a strong signal.
Using what you learn
Strategic plans are best used to shape messaging and focus, not to predict specific contracts. Some practical applications:
- Tailor your capability statement to emphasize competencies that align with the agency’s goals.
- Open conversations with agency staff by referencing a specific objective and asking how their office contributes to it.
- In proposals, explain how your approach supports the mission outcomes the agency has publicly committed to.
Be careful not to overreach. Quoting an agency’s goals back to it without showing a genuine connection to your work can sound hollow. The goal is understanding, not flattery.
Many agencies also publish other planning documents, such as information technology strategic plans, workforce plans and sustainability plans. For firms in those specialties, those documents can be even more targeted. A few hours spent reading them this month can make every agency conversation this year more productive.