The USDA’s IT Strategic Plan (FY22-26) outlines five goals to enhance the department’s technology, data, and operational capabilities, all aimed at delivering customer-centric services and driving efficiency. Key highlights include:
- Accelerating Digital Transformation: Modernizing legacy systems and integrating human-centered design for better customer experiences.
- Prioritize cloud migration, AI adoption, and streamlined service delivery.
- Example: AI-based tools for digitizing scientific data in high-security environments.
- Driving Innovation: Using advanced technologies such as AI, robotics, drones, and augmented reality to improve agriculture and rural services.
- Focus on creating innovation labs, developing use cases for emerging tech, and removing policy barriers.
- Example: UAVs to improve wildfire management and predictive models.
- Improving IT Workforce Agility: Developing a skilled IT workforce through competency assessments, hiring programs, and human-centered design approaches.
- Example: IT Fellows Program to train and retain top talent.
- Building Resilience: Adopting Zero Trust cybersecurity models and ensuring systems are resilient to attacks and disruptions.
- Example: Using AI to predict and address cybersecurity threats.
- Enabling Data-Driven Decision-Making: Enhancing data governance, accessibility, and analytics capabilities to empower better decision-making.
- Example: Launching Enterprise Data Analytics Platform and Toolset (EDAPT) to centralize data access.
You can download the USDA IT Strategic Plan directly from the USDA.gov website here: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda_it_strategic_plan_final.pdf
Actionable SMART Goals for Federal Sales or Business Development Reps
Specific: Align solutions with USDA’s strategic goals by addressing their digital transformation, innovation, workforce, resilience, or data priorities.
Measurable: Focus on increasing USDA engagement opportunities by responding to 3 targeted RFPs aligned with the IT plan each quarter.
Achievable:
- Develop tailored proposals for USDA cloud migration and AI initiatives, citing examples of success in similar environments.
- Schedule meetings with USDA IT leaders to discuss your solution’s alignment with their Strategic Plan.
Relevant: Prioritize areas highlighted in the plan, such as Zero Trust security, AI for predictive analytics, and IoT for agriculture.
Time-Bound:
- Within 30 Days: Download USDA’s Strategic Plan and identify potential agency needs.
- Within 60 Days: Analyze active RFPs for alignment with your products/services and prepare tailored solutions.
- Within 90 Days: Host a workshop or webinar to demonstrate your expertise in areas like cloud migration or cybersecurity.
Federal Sales/BD Engagement Strategies
- Tailor Pitches to USDA’s Goals:
- Highlight how your solutions align with USDA’s priorities, such as sustainability or digital transformation.
- Use real-world examples, such as assisting with AI-based wildfire management or cloud migration.
- Partner with Existing USDA Vendors:
- Collaborate with systems integrators (e.g., SAIC, Booz Allen) to strengthen your market position.
- Focus on Data-Driven Outcomes:
- Use USDA’s emphasis on data accessibility and governance to pitch analytics tools that improve operational efficiency.
- Highlight Innovation Success:
- Showcase innovative technologies that solve USDA-specific challenges, such as IoT for rural infrastructure or UAVs for crop monitoring.
- Build Relationships with Key USDA Stakeholders:
- Engage with USDA CIO Gary Washington or other IT leaders to discuss how your solutions align with their roadmap.
By targeting these SMART goals and tailoring your approach to USDA’s stated objectives, you can position your offerings as essential tools for the department’s digital and operational transformation.
USDA Agency Links:
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)
AMS facilitates the strategic marketing of agricultural products in domestic and international markets while ensuring fair trading practices and promoting a competitive and efficient marketplace. AMS constantly works to develop new marketing services to increase customer satisfaction.
Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
ARS is USDA’s principal in-house research agency. ARS leads America towards a better future through agricultural research and information.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
APHIS provides leadership in ensuring the health and care of animals and plants. The agency improves agricultural productivity and competitiveness and contributes to the national economy and the public health.
Economic Research Service (ERS)
ERS is USDA’s principal social science research agency. Each year, ERS communicates research results and socioeconomic indicators via briefings, analyses for policymakers and their staffs, market analysis updates, and major reports.
Farm Service Agency (FSA)
The Farm Service Agency implements agricultural policy, administers credit and loan programs, and manages conservation, commodity, disaster and farm marketing programs through a national network of offices.
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
FNS increases food security and reduces hunger in partnership with cooperating organizations by providing children and low-income people access to food, a healthy diet, and nutrition education in a manner that supports American agriculture and inspires public confidence.
Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
FSIS enhances public health and well-being by protecting the public from foodborne illness and ensuring that the nation’s meat, poultry and egg products are safe, wholesome, and correctly packaged.
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
FAS works to improve foreign market access for U.S. products. This USDA agency operates programs designed to build new markets and improve the competitive position of U.S. agriculture in the global marketplace.
Forest Service (FS)
FS sustains the health, diversity and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.
FPAC Business Center
The FPAC Business Center is a first-of-its-kind organization at USDA, combining the talent of employees from all three FPAC agencies into specialized teams that serve employees and customers across the Farm Service Agency (FSA), the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Risk Management Agency (RMA).
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)
NASS serves the basic agricultural and rural data needs of the country by providing objective, important and accurate statistical information and services to farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses and public officials. This data is vital to monitoring the ever-changing agricultural sector and carrying out farm policy.
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
NIFA’s mission is to invest in and advance agricultural research, education, and extension to solve societal challenges. NIFA’s investments in transformative science directly support the long-term prosperity and global preeminence of U.S. agriculture.
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
NRCS provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain and improve our natural resources and environment.
Risk Management Agency (RMA)
RMA helps to ensure that farmers have the financial tools necessary to manage their agricultural risks. RMA provides coverage through the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, which promotes national welfare by improving the economic stability of agriculture.
Rural Development (RD)
RD helps rural areas to develop and grow by offering Federal assistance that improves quality of life. RD targets communities in need and then empowers them with financial and technical resources.
Rural Utilities Service (RUS)
RUS provides financing to build or improve infrastructure in rural communities. This includes water and waste treatment, electric power and telecommunications services. These services help expand economic opportunities and improve the quality of life for rural residents.
Rural Housing Service (RHS)
RHS offers a variety of programs to build or improve housing and essential community facilities in rural areas. RHS offers loans, grants and loan guarantees for single- and multi-family housing, child care centers, fire and police stations, hospitals, libraries, nursing homes, schools, first responder vehicles and equipment, housing for farm laborers and much more.
Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS)
RBS offers programs to help businesses grow as well as job training for people living in rural areas. These programs help provide the capital, training, education and entrepreneurial skills that can help people living in rural areas start and grow businesses or find jobs in agricultural markets and in the bio-based economy.
