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Facilities/Construction
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In Part 4 of the special report, Questioning Clearances, Federal News Radio examines the government's plan to use new technology to keep better tabs on cleared personnel on a near, real-time basis. But some experts wonder whether such a plan could be implemented successfully in the swift timelines sought by the government.
May 18, 2014 -
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The White House wants agencies to double their use of renewable energy. Agencies have until 2016 to come up with $2 billion in energy savings performance contracts above and beyond what they've already committed to. Dorothy Robyn is the former commissioner of the Public Buildings Service at the General Services Administration. She joined Tom Temin and Emily Kopp on the Federal Drive to discuss what agencies can do to take on this new push.
May 16, 2014 -
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The General Services Administration is undertaking renovations of federally-owned buildings across the country. The modernized structures will save money, in part by reducing energy and water consumption. Locally, the agency has completed a makeover of the Parklawn Building in Rockville, Maryland. The once homely behemoth has gotten more than a face-lift. Victoria Hartke, director of the Office of Leasing at the General Services Administration's Public Buildings Service, spoke about the renovation with Tom Temin and Emily Kopp on the Federal Drive.
May 15, 2014 -
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Ten years ago, the federal government was faced with a crisis in managing security clearances: costly delays and backlogs in performing background investigations. The Office of Personnel Management stepped in and tremendous progress clearing the backlog and meeting strict new timelines mandated by Congress. But some critics now worry too much focus has been put on speed in the process — and not enough attention has been given to quality. In our special report, Questioning Clearances, Federal News Radio examines why efforts to measure the quality of background investigations have stalled.
May 14, 2014 -
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Since 2008, the Office of Personnel Management has been on a crusade to root out falsification in background investigations using the courts. Nearly two dozen background investigators for either OPM or one of its contractors have been criminally prosecuted for misconduct ranging from outright falsifying reports, known as "ghostwriting," to performing sloppy checks that failed to adhere to OPM's standards.
May 09, 2014 -
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Less than two weeks ago, a federal judge approved the transfer of the case alleging USIS with improperly conducting thousands of background-check reviews to Washington, D.C. An investigation conducted by the Office of Personnel Management's inspector general remains ongoing. OPM says it has confidence in the reforms put in place by the company.
May 07, 2014 -
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Shrinking the federal government's real estate holdings is the goal of seemingly every administration. But "the budgetary rules that govern investment in these assets are a blunt instrument that does serious collateral damage," Dorothy Robyn, former commissioner of the Public Buildings Service at the General Services Administration, wrote in an article for the Brookings Institution. Robyn gave her insight to Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp on what she sees as the biggest problems in federal property management.
May 02, 2014 -
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The Army broke ground last week on what will become the Defense Department's largest solar energy project ever. The Fort Huachuca, Ariz., solar project will provide the Army with renewable energy at no additional cost to the government. As Federal News Radio DoD Reporter Jared Serbu reports, the Army sets aside dozens of acres of southern Arizona land for the solar panels. In exchange for the land, a local utility company will build and operate them. Read Federal News Radio's related article.
April 29, 2014 -
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The Fort Huachuca, Ariz., solar project will provide the Army with renewable energy at no additional cost to the government. The solar panels are expected to provide 18 megawatts of electricity, enough to light a small-sized city.
April 29, 2014 -
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The Army breaks ground Friday on a giant solar array at sunny Fort Huachuca in Arizona. Once built, it will provide about a quarter of the energy needed to power the mid-sized base. It will be the largest solar project in the military's portfolio for a while. Amanda Simpson, executive director for the U.S. Army's Energy Initiatives Task Force, described the scope of the project to Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp.
April 25, 2014 -
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Dennis McGinn, assistant secretary of the Navy for energy, installations and environment, says the pursuit of renewable energy is not just about the Navy "going green." It supports the mission.
April 23, 2014 -
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President Barack Obama wants the government to lead by example. He asks agencies to triple their use of renewable electricity sources by 2020 and get at least one-fifth of their energy from renewables. Willie Taylor, director of the Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance at the Interior Department, explained to Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp how his agency plans to meet the goal.
April 23, 2014 -
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Navy says the Defense Production Act and a new partnership with USDA will help it generate several hundred million gallons per year of U.S.-based biofuel. The solicitations it plans to issue over the next year are a key stepping stone to the Navy's goal of getting half its energy from alternative sources by 2020.
April 23, 2014 -
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The Defense Department names nine winners for the 2014 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards. They choose the winners from 33 nominations. The winners represent nine different categories and six subject areas. Maureen Sullivan, director of environment, safety and occupational health at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, discusses a few of the highlights of the winners with In Depth with Francis Rose.
April 22, 2014
