Federal Drive

Monday Morning Federal Newscast

Spending bill update, OPM may run the public option, DHS using TalentLink for more jobs

Federal News Network Staff

December 7, 2009 8:23 am

3 min read

Written by Jane Norris & Ruben Gomez
Edited by Suzanne Kubota

This morning’s federal news as heard on WFED:

House Democrats are reportedly considering a two-part omnibus to finish work on remaining spending bills for 2010. Congress Daily reports that action on at least one measure could happen this week. A democratic aide cited in the paper says the plan would include six of the seven remaining appropriations bills. A second measure would clear the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill. So far, only five of 12 spending bills have been signed into law.

The Office of Personnel Management could be charged with running the public option, under healthcare reform. Goverment Executive reports the Senate proposal would set up a small business health plan similar to the federal employee benefits program, which OPM runs. The Senate held a rare weekend session to tackle healthcare reform complete with a visit from the President to Democrats. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says just a few issues remain, including the public option.

Homeland Security has a new hiring system. Talent Link, already in operation at DHS Headquarters, will be standard for DHS hiring as they look to fill more than 6,500 positions by 2012. This year, the department started using the system at its headquarters offices, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Office of the Inspector General. Other agencies will follow suit over the next three years. The system track how long it takes to complete the hiring process, easily create job vacancy announcements, post them online, and market vacancies to targeted populations.

NASA begins its move to a new set of IT contracts that could be worth $10-billion dollars. The space agency has issued its first request for proposals under its IT Infrastructure Integration Program, or I3P. The Web Enterprise Services and Technology contract will create, maintain and manage public Web sites for NASA. The contract is one of five planned under I3P, and is set aside for small businesses.

One in 10 Combined Federal Campaigns apply between 20 and 30 percent of their donations toward overhead costs. Some small CFCs blame OPM mandates for eating into the donations they do raise. CFC overhead costs typically include mandated audits that ensure no fraud has taken place. The printing of pledge cards and charity guides, advertising, outreach events, staff training, and incentives for donors.

The U.S. military could buy nearly 4,000 additional mine-resistant all-terrain vehicles for Afghanistan, reports GovExec. Defense Secretary Gates told the House Armed Services Committee the military may need a total of 10,000 of the M-ATVs. The Pentagon has already tapped Oshkosh Corp. to build 6,219 of the vehicles by April. With production runs expected to hit 1,000 vehicles a month, it appears the firm could produce the additional vehicles by August or September. The M-ATV’s lighter weight, independent suspension system and greater off-road mobility is well-suited to Afghanistan’s rugged terrain.

The Defense Department awards a $40,000 dollar cash prize for social networking. MIT has come out victorious in the DARPA Network Challenge, which required participants to find 10 large red balloons hidden around the country. The teams used social networking to hone in on the balloon locations. DARPA sponsored the challenge to explore how Web 2.0 can help organizations solve problems.

More news links

Bill caps flexible spending account contributions (GovExec)

Pentagon IG: Former Official Abused Travel Policies (FederalTimes)

Ability to access comments gathered by White House questioned (NextGov)

NASA awards $355 million IT contract for Marshall Space Flight Center (NextGov)

DOD nixes vendor of online monitoring software over privacy concerns (ComputerWorld)

FDA: Texas oysters linked to virus (CNN)

Rocket launches Air Force satellite from Fla.

Air Force Changing Tattoo Policy (KXTV/News10)