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CERCLA sounds like a 1960s television character made out of a rug. It's actually an environmental law that can have a big effect on federal contracting. One recent CERCLA case shows how a gasoline contract from World War II can affect a procurement today. Attorney Joe Petrillo explained the case to Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp.
Congress is trying to be a good citizen this month. By passing the easy bills first, it hopes to get some real work done before arguing about the contentious stuff. That means it's tackling things like the construction budgets for Veterans Affairs and the Defense Department. Matt Hummer, senior transportation analyst with Bloomberg Government, told Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp what's in some of the bills Congress has already passed.
The time it takes for emergency personnel to respond to a crisis is crucial. And as we witnessed in the Navy Yard shootings, the miscommunication between law enforcement and emergency personnel can slow efforts to get things under control. The First Responder Network Authority is planning to build an interoperable wireless network for federal, state and local first responders. TJ Kennedy, the deputy general manager for FirstNet, told Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp how the network came to be.
The Federal Newscast is a daily compilation of the stories you hear Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp discuss throughout the show each day. The Newscast is designed to give FederalNewsRadio.com users more information about the stories you hear on the air. In today's news, two Senators want to stop agencies from paying bonuses to employees with discipline problems, and GSA honors buildings in its Design Awards.
Six months later, government contractors are still recovering from the shutdown. Lost revenue, delayed contract awards and the trickledown effect to programs are among the main aftershocks. Federal News Radio executive editor Jason Miller connects with several vendors he talked to during the shutdown in October and some new ones to find out about the lingering impacts.
It's still far too early to celebrate, but there are some signs that the reforms may be paying off five years after Congress passed its most recent attempt to fix the Defense Department's acquisition system. Federal News Radio's DoD reporter Jared Serbu has more.
The House of Representatives is considering a bill to reform the Homeland Security Department's acquisition process. H.R. 4228 asks DHS to improve acquisition accountability and keep its programs on schedule. Henry Willis, director of the RAND Corporation's Homeland Security and Defense Center, tells In Depth with Francis Rose whether this is a remedy in the works for DHS' troubled acquisition process.
Charles Edwards and Kathleen Sebelius will tell you federal leaders only get name recognition when it's not positive. Staying on mission, within budget and keeping productivity high are just a few of the things federal managers and decision makers have to think about. Bob Tobias, director of Key Executive Leadership Programs at American University, tells In Depth with Francis Rose it's time for you and your colleagues to look in the mirror.
You know you exist, but when you retire not everyone else does. Federal News Radio Senior Correspondent Mike Causey writes about the G-Man who never was and still isn't in his column today. He says you can learn a lesson from this guy.
The National Defense Authorization Act for this year will include an increase for cyber operations. It's one of the few budget categories that will go up in the defense budget. Ben FitzGerald, a senior fellow and director of the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, is writing about potential models for success in cyber command and control structure.
The first day of markups for the National Defense Authorization Act includes a big win for military personnel advocates but potentially a big swing and a miss too. The Personnel subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee rejects cuts to housing allowances...commissary funding and changes to TRICARE that would make some participants pay more themselves. The subcommittee didn't say anything about a 1 percent pay raise for troops for 2015 though. Retired Army Col. Mike Barron, deputy director of government relations at the Military Officers Association of America, shares his views on In Depth with Francis Rose.
The military has doubled-down on efforts to prevent sexual assault. They've labeled this month "Sexual Assault Awareness Month." It's a topic Sgt. Maj. of the Army Ray Chandler brings up whenever he visits soldiers. He says "Take back your Army" from those who commit sexual assault. Chandler told Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp some of the most recent statistics about sexual assault in the Army.
In a win for open-government advocates, President Barack Obama plans to sign the Digital Accountability and Transparency (DATA) Act into law. Big changes are ahead for federal agencies. Federal News Radio Executive Editor Jason Miller explained to Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp why getting the bill to the President's desk may have been the easy part of this nearly three-year effort. Read Federal News Radio's related article.
A few hours change in sleep patterns might not seem like a big deal. But for members of the Navy's silent service, it could have major implications. The Navy has given commanders the green light to change submariners' sleep schedules, so that they more closely resemble life above the ocean's service. Now, sailors' work days will begin every 24 hours, instead of every 18 hours. Lt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for the submarine force, told Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp what prompted the changes.