Program Management Improvement and Accountability Act of 2015

“(c) Program and project management—Subject to the direction and approval of the Director, the Deputy Director for Management or designee shall—

“(1) adopt governmentwide standards, policies, and guidelines for program and project management for executive agencies;

“(2) oversee program and project management for the standards, policies, and guidelines established under paragraph (1);

“(3) chair the Program Management Policy Council established by section 1126(b);

“(4) issue regulations and establish standards and policies for executive agencies in accordance with nationally accredited standards for program and project management planning and delivery issues;

“(5) engage with the private sector;

“(6) conduct portfolio reviews to address programs identified as high risk by the Government Accountability Office;

“(7) not less than annually, conduct portfolio reviews of agency programs in coordination with project management improvement officers; and

“(8) establish a five-year strategic plan for program and project management.”

“1126. Program Management Improvement Officers and Program Management Policy Council

“(a) Program Management Improvement Officers

“(1) Designation—The head of each agency described in section 901(b) shall designate a senior executive of the agency as the agency Program Management Improvement Officer. The Program Management Improvement Officer shall report directly to the head of the agency.

“(2) Functions—The Program Management Improvement Officer shall—

“(A) implement agency program management policies established under section 503(c); and

“(B) develop a written strategy for enhancing the role of program managers within the agency that includes the following:

“(i) Enhanced training and educational opportunities for program managers.

“(ii) Mentoring of current and future program managers by experienced senior executives and program managers within the agency.

“(iii) Improved career paths and career opportunities for program managers.

“(iv) Incentives for the recruitment and retention of highly qualified individuals to serve as program managers.

“(v) Improved resources and support, including relevant competencies encompassed with program and project management within the private sector for program managers.

“(vi) Improved means of collecting and disseminating best practices and lessons learned to enhance program management across the agency.

“(vii) Common templates and tools to support improved data gathering and analysis for program management and oversight purposes.

“(b) Program Management Policy Council

“(1) Establishment—There is established in the Office of Management and Budget a council to be known as the “Program Management Policy Council” (in this section referred to as the “Council”).

“(2) Purpose and Functions—The Council shall act as the principal interagency forum for improving agency practices related to program and project management. The Council shall—

“(A) advise and assist the Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget;

“(B) review programs identified as high risk by the General Accountability Office and make recommendations for actions to be taken by the Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget or designee;

“(C) discuss topics of importance to the workforce, including—

“(i) career development and workforce development needs;

“(ii) policy to support continuous improvement in program and project management; and

“(iii) major challenges across agencies in managing programs;

“(D) advise on the development and applicability of standards governmentwide for program management transparency; and

“(E) review the information published on the website pursuant to section 1122.

“(3) Membership

“(A) Composition—The Council shall be composed of the following members:

“(i) Five members from the Office of Management and Budget as follows:

“(I) The Deputy Director for Management.

“(II) The Administrator of the Office of Electronic Government.

“(III) The Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy.

“(IV) The Controller of the Office of Federal Financial Management.

“(V) The Director of the Office of Performance and Personnel Management.

“(ii) The Program Management Improvement Officer from each agency described in section 901(b).

“(iii) Other individuals as determined appropriate by the Chairperson.

“(B) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson

“(i) In General—The Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget shall be the Chairperson of the Council. A Vice Chairperson shall be elected by the members and shall serve a term of not more than one year.

“(ii) Duties—The Chairperson shall preside at the meetings of the Council, determine the agenda of the Council, direct the work, of the Council and establish and direct subgroups of the Council as appropriate.

“(4) Meetings—The Council shall meet not less than twice per fiscal year and may meet at the call of the Chairperson or a majority of the members of the Council.

“(5) Support—The head of each agency with a Project Management Improvement Officer serving on the Council shall provide administrative support to the Council, as appropriate, at the request of the Chairperson.

“(6) Committee duration—Section 14(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Council.”