Acquisition Policy

• Associate Administrator David McClure

  September 13th and September 15th As Associate Administrator, McClure oversees the Office of Citizen Services and Communications\' two main divisions: the Office of Citizen Services and the Office of Communications and Marketing.

  Technology

  September 13, 2010
• Analysis: Why the Networx deadline was extended

  Edward Morche is the Senior Vice President of Level 3 Federal Markets. He tells the DorobekINSIDER the reimbursement deadline is really a way for GSA to pay back the agencies for the extra work they incur by transitioning from one contract to another.

  Management

  September 13, 2010
• GSA to extend Networx reimbursement deadline

  Agencies now have another 12 months to submit their transition plans and have GSA pay for the costs to move to the new telecommunications contract. GSA does an about-face after saying for the past year it would hold agencies to that Aug. 31 deadline. Congressman Towns to introduce legislation to require agencies to transition to Networx by June 2011.

  Technology

  September 10, 2010
• NASA shows the way with e-mail consolidation

  The space agency\'s experience in reducing the number of its e-mail systems could serve as a model for others who are going down a similar path. NASA\'s benefits include cost savings, better cybersecurity and scalability to deal with the expanding need for mobile access.

  Defense

  September 10, 2010
• Pentagon uses challenges to fuel solutions

  Agencies are turning to innovation challenges as a way to solve problems and get people from outside the government involved in coming up with solutions. The White House launched Challenge.gov Tuesday and 15 agencies already are using the platform to hold contests. DoD has four challenges on the platform looking at a variety of issues.

  Defense

  September 09, 2010
• DorobekINSIDER: Tamela Riggs named GSA FAS assistant commissioner

  Some changes at GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service. Tamela “Tami” Riggs will move from GSA’s Public Building Service and has been named to the post of Assistant Commissioner, Office of Customer Accounts and Research for GSA’s…

  Budget

  September 08, 2010
• New FAS Commissioner discusses priorities, goals

  This week, host Larry Allen talks with Steve Kempf of GSA\'s FAS. Sept. 7, 2010 (Encore Presentation)

  Off the Shelf

  September 08, 2010
• Defense insourcing to continue

  Army builds tank test track at Aberdeen

  Federal Drive

  September 08, 2010
• Communication, leadership make the best agencies run

  The FCC, GSA and the Smithsonian were among the best agencies to work for in the latest survey and officials point to a few specific reasons for their success. Agencies must make their employees feel like they are part of the answer to meeting their mission, agency officials say.

  Budget

  September 07, 2010
• GSA not accepting new vendors for office supply schedule

  The General Services Administration is suspending new companies from offering office supplies through Schedule 75 for two years.

  Management

  September 03, 2010
• Crowdsourcing Solar Flare Predicition

  When NASA scientists were stymied last year in trying to devise a formula for predicting solar flares, they took an unusual approach: They posted their problem online, and offered a prize to anyone who could solve it. One requirement: the person with the winning solution would have to fork over exclusive rights to the idea - in exchange for a $30,000 prize. 579 people considered the challenge, while only five submitted entries. The winner was a retired radio frequency engineer from New Hampshire who offered an algorithm that may be a first step in helping NASA predict when solar particles might endanger astronauts or spacecraft. Top officials within the General Services Administration and the Office of Management and Budget have called the contest the beginning of a huge movement. Now, the website challenge-dot-gov allows agencies to post challenges, create blogs and discussions, and reward winners with an array of incentives.

  Technology

  September 03, 2010
• Feds to pay less for hotels in major cities in 2011

  GSA has issued per diem rates for lodging for next year. Most hotels in major cities saw a decrease, including $15 for Washington, $71 in New York City and $45 in Chicago. GSA did not change the rates for meals and other incidentals.

  Budget

  September 03, 2010
• Agency services lack consistency, coordination

  OMB finds that most website and call center operations are separate and don\'t work well together. Some agencies are following the private sector\'s lead by offering multiple channels to serve citizens. CMS and GSA both use online tools to answer questions more quickly and reliably.

  Budget

  September 02, 2010
• FAA’s NextGen takes flight

  By 2018, the FAA expects NextGen to reduce flight delays by 21 percent, provide $22 billion in benefits to the traveling public, and save 1.4 billion gallons of fuel. We get an update on the program from the FAA\'s Vicki Fox.

  Federal Drive

  September 01, 2010