All NPC contacts should have received the email below from NPPO Administrator Kim Collins.   A little background:

Since the mid-1990s, each administration has included in its annual VA budget request to Congress a section on projected NPC revenues and expenses.  NAVREF objected to this the first year it appeared, and for several years thereafter, because it made the R&D program appear to be better funded than it actually was and could have an effect on the appropriations outcome for the VA Medical and Prosthetics Research account.  Despite our concerns, subsequent administrations have persisted in this practice, and the best we can hope for are realistic projections.  

To the best of my knowledge, Kim’s request is the first time effort has been put into providing realistic numbers in the budget request – the projections for the early years of the transition to CRADAs were particularly unrealistic - so she is to be applauded for that.  I know this request imposes some work on NPCs.  Additionally, projections are always hard to make, and they are particularly difficult in this economy when combined with the ongoing transition to CRADAs.  However, with accurate information in the budget request, the outcome for VA should be better.

2008 Annual Report to Congress

By coincidence, VA’s 2008 NPC Annual Report (based on reports submitted in June 2009) was delivered to Congress this week so NPCs may now have access to the executive summary and data tables.  Kim has provided these key components for posting on the NAVREF web site.  You will note that total NPC revenues were $249.2 million, a slight decline from $250.5 million the year before.  Expenditures were $243.5 million, a slight increase over prior year expenditures of $242.7 million.   Congratulations to Kim and her staff for compiling the report and getting it through the VA concurrence process in a timely fashion.  

See: 

Annual Report main page: http://navref.org/library/Annual_Reports.htm

2008 Executive Summary:  http://navref.org/library/pdf/FINAL-2008_NPC_Annual_Report-09-15-2009.pdf

2008 Financial Information:  http://navref.org/library/excel/FINAL-2008_NPC_Annual_Report_Financial_Data-8-16-09.xls

From: Collins, Kimberly (VHA)

Sent: Friday, November 06, 2009 1:26 PM

TO: All NPC Executive Directors

SUBJECT:  Request for Budget Data

VA is endeavoring to improve its budgeting process.  In this regard, we

are herewith requesting your NPC's actual or estimated figures for your

revenues and expenses for the years 2009 through 2011.

Please fill out the following schedule to the best of your ability,

keeping in mind that reasonable estimates are completely acceptable:

REVENUES:

2009    $_____________________

2010    $_____________________

2011    $_____________________ 

EXPENSES:

2009 $______________________

2010 $______________________

2011 $______________________

Thank you for your prompt attention to this request.  We are looking

forward to hearing back from you by Monday, November 16.  Please submit

responses to Allan Krehbiel at allan.krehbiel@va.gov.

Best regards,

Kim Collins

 Kim  Collins, MBA

 Nonprofit Program Office Administrator

 VHA, Office of Research and Development

 816.922.2042

 202.731.6973  (Cell)