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• The Pentagon’s inspector general said it has begun a formal review of the military services’ procedures for sending criminal record information to the FBI. Defense Secretary James Mattis requested the review after it became clear that the Air Force had not entered Devin Kelley’s court-martial records into federal criminal conviction databases. Kelley was the shooter in this month’s massacre in Sutherland Springs, Texas. In a letter to the military services and other Defense Department organizations on Monday, the IG said it would investigate the Kelley matter specifically, but also the policies, practices, and procedures all DoD law enforcement agencies use for submitting criminal records to the FBI. (Defense.gov)

• The House is expected to vote today on the 2018 defense authorization bill. Both the House and Senate reconciled the bill earlier this month. The Senate has not set a date for its final vote. The bill would authorize nearly $700 billion in defense spending. In a new twist, the bill would also allow the Pentagon to buy “commercially available off-the-shelf items” from online marketplaces online merchants such as Amazon, Staples or Walmart to save time and money.  (CNBC)

• The Office of Personnel Management said it has some concerns with the pending transfer for defense-related security clearances back to Defense Department. The transfer is part of the 2018 defense authorization bill up for a final vote today. According to documents obtained by Federal News Radio, OPM said splitting the current security clearance process between two agencies would jeopardize its effort to reduce the backlog of pending investigations. (Federal News Radio)

• Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.) has introduced legislation that would allow disabled veterans to participate in the same retirement savings plan as other federal employees.  The Financial Independence for Disabled Veterans Act would allow participation by vets who receive some kind of veterans disability compensation. Under current law, service members are not able to contribute to their retirement once they transition back to civilian life. The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board would be in charge of writing regulations. (Congress.gov)

• A new website has been created to cast the shadowy intelligence community in a new light. Intelligence.gov not only highlights individual workers, it encourages visitors to learn their backgrounds and delve into the material they have produced working in U.S. intelligence. The new drive toward transparency was the brainchild of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and designed to offer daily news about the community and more understanding about careers and agencies within the community.  (Federal News Radio)

• The Office of Personnel Management said it has withdrawn a proposed rule that would have given agencies flexibility in paying health benefits to employees on leave without pay, or any other type of non-pay status. OPM said the potential cost savings did not outweigh the potential negative impact losing health insurance would have on certain federal employees. (Federal Register)

• A whistleblower complaint about the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Civil Rights claims the agency takes too long to resolve cases in which employees claim discrimination.  The allegations made by Susan Lees, a former EPA computer specialist, were confirmed both by an internal investigation and by the Office of Special Counsel.  On average, it takes 491 days for the EPA’s Civil Rights Office to finish its casework.  By law, such cases are supposed to be settled within 60 days. (Office of Civil Rights)

• The Office of Federal Procurement Policy has shifted from using a circular to institutionalize how agencies buy common products and services. Federal News Radio has learned about OFPP’s review of comments on a draft memo requiring agencies to use demand management and best-in-class contracts under the category management initiative. Government sources said OFPP will ask agencies to set annual spending goals for using the best-in-class contracts. So far, OFPP has named 29 governmentwide acquisition vehicles as best-in-class. (Federal News Radio)

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