This document provides an overview of the Advance Planning Document (APD) process, which is used to obtain federal funding for information systems that support programs under the Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture. It describes the key components of the APD process, including preconditions, the different types of APDs (planning, implementation, updates), approval processes, contracting requirements, and reporting. The overall purpose of the APD is to describe a plan for a proposed system and seek approval and funding from federal agencies like CMS and ACF.