Welcome to the OCIO
OCIO photo banner
 OCIO HomeMore about the OCIO News about the OCIOInformation and HelpContact Us
 
 Search
Browse by Subject
Information about USDA Asset Management
Information about USDA Directives
Information about USDA Enterprise Architecture
Information about USDA Geospatial Management Office
Information about USDA Enterprise Information Technology Solutions
Information about USDA Forms Management
Information Collection at the USDA
Information about Capital Planning at the USDA
Information about USDA Information Technology Security
Information about USDA Information Technology Services
Information about the USDA Information Technology Workforce
Information about USDA IT Project Management
 Information about USDA Quality of Information Guidelines
Information about the USDA Records Management Program
Information about USDA Section 508 and Accessibility
Information about USDA Telecommunications Services and Operations
 
You are here: Home / USDA Information Quality Activities
USDA Information Quality Activities Banner
General Requirements for the Quality of Information Disseminated by USDA Agencies and Offices

These general information quality guidelines apply to all types of information disseminated by USDA agencies and offices..

  • USDA will strive to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of the information that its agencies and offices disseminate to the public.
  • USDA agencies and offices will adopt a basic standard of quality (including objectivity, utility, and integrity) and take appropriate steps to incorporate information quality criteria into their information dissemination practices.
  • USDA agencies and offices will review the quality (including objectivity, utility, and integrity) of information before it is disseminated to ensure that it complies with the standards set forth in these Guidelines.
  • USDA agencies and offices will treat information quality as integral to every step in their development of information, including creation, collection, maintenance, and dissemination.
  • In accordance with OMB guidance, when collecting information that requires OMB clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act, USDA agencies and offices will demonstrate in the clearance package submitted to OMB that the information collection would result in information that will comply with OMB and USDA information quality guidelines.

The following information quality criteria comprise the general quality standards that USDA agencies and offices will follow in developing and reviewing information and disseminating it to the public.  

Objectivity

  • USDA agencies and offices will strive to ensure that the information they disseminate is substantively accurate, reliable, and unbiased and presented in an accurate, clear, complete, and unbiased manner.
  • To the extent possible, consistent with confidentiality protections, USDA agencies and offices will identify the source of the information so that the public can assess whether the information is objective.

Utility

  • USDA agencies and offices will assess the usefulness of the information they disseminate to its intended users, including the public.
  • When transparency of information is relevant for assessing the information's usefulness from the public's perspective, USDA agencies and offices will ensure that transparency is addressed in their review of the information prior to its dissemination.
  • USDA agencies and offices will ensure that disseminated information is accessible to all persons pursuant to the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Integrity

  • USDA agencies and offices will protect information they maintain from unauthorized access or revision to ensure that disseminated information is not compromised through corruption or falsification.
  • USDA agencies and offices will secure their information resources by implementing the programs and policies required by the Government Information Security Reform Act.
  • USDA agencies and offices will maintain the integrity of confidential information and comply with the statutory requirements to protect the information it gathers and disseminates.  These include: The Privacy Act of 1974, as amended; The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; The Computer Security Act of 1987; The Freedom of Information Act; and OMB Circulars A-123, A-127, and A-130.

content divider http://www.ocio.usda.gov/qi_guide/index.html
Last Modified: 03/01/2012


 
I Want To
    Correction of Information
    Read About Scientific
Research Guidelines/
Peer Review
    Read About Statistical/
Financial Guidelines
    Read About Regulatory
Guidelines
    Read About Program/
Services Guidelines
    Read About General
Reference Guidelines
    Read About
Organizational/
Administrative Guidelines
See Also
    Quality of Information
Guidelines Background
    List of Agency
Quality Officials/
Peer Review Officials
Peer Review Agenda
    Privacy Act
Statement
    Quality of Information
Contact
    USDA Information
Quality Annual Report

FY 2003 (Word 109KB)
FY 2004 (Word 40KB)
FY 2005 (Word 49KB)
FY 2006 (Excel 178KB)
FY 2007 (Excel 196KB)
FY 2008 (Excel 191KB)
FY 2009 (Excel 85KB)
FY 2010 (Excel 84KB)
FY 2011 (Excel 79KB)
    USDA Information
Peer Review Annual Report

FY 2006 (Word 98KB)
FY 2007 (Word 204KB)
FY 2008 (Word 55KB)
FY 2009 (PDF 222KB)
FY 2010 (PDF 235KB)
    Definitions
 
USDA.gov