News

From Nextgov.com: Multiple Award Schedules program suffers from dearth of data

Electronic purchasing tools provide limited information and hinder GSA's ability to meet customer needs, report says.

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: Complex Networx contract causes more work, delays for acquisition staffs

Lawmakers, feds and industry executives discuss ways to ease the transition and shorten the delays to telecom contract .

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: Lawmaker questions data error in a Census Bureau report on states’ finances

Mistake underscores government’s need to shift to a widely used programming language to improve accuracy , analyst says.

News

From Nextgov.com: Federal contract spending to drop next year, but IT business should rise

Agencies will spend more on e-health records, performance management tools and consolidation, report finds.

Oversight

Health and pension burdens freeze USPS in its tracks

Legislative changes are critical to agency’s financial recovery, officials say.

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: GSA chief outlines IT spending to House appropriators

Integrating databases, improving public websites and developing an online application agencies can use to track greenhouse gas emissions are part of a double-digit increase in the agency’s fiscal 2011 budget request.

Tech

Federal Jobs: A 22-Year-Old's Take

A Net-Gen member shares her experiences.

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: FAA urges airlines to be clear on personal tech use in cockpit

Crew members are required to refrain from ‘performing nonessential duties’ during takeoffs and landings, but new notice asks carriers to set policies for the use of cell phones, laptops and other devices during flights.

Oversight

SEC porn surfing draws Republican ire

Senior staff should have been focused on the financial sector’s problems, lawmakers say.

Oversight

USPS move to five-day delivery isn’t a done deal

Postal Service officials and lawmakers continue to debate how best to contain the agency’s huge labor costs.

Oversight

GSA announces new chief of staff

Michael Robertson will focus on sustainability, open government, economic recovery and contracting.

Oversight

Revamped Thrift Savings website could be delayed until June

Load tests must be completed and multimedia features will be added as the project evolves, officials say.

Oversight

GAO calls for more outsourcing, part-time employees at Postal Service

Watchdog and lawmakers disagree over whether workforce restructuring will improve USPS’ bottom line.

News

From Nextgov.com: Study finds much of cloud’s savings would come from IT job losses

Cost reductions would depend on the number of positions executives would be willing to cut or transfer .

News

From Nextgov.com: Senators concerned over savings lost due to Networx delays

Agencies should share transition plans by April 9, oversight committee says.

Pay & Benefits

Five-day mail delivery plan would cut tens of thousands of jobs

Postal Service needs Congress’ approval to move forward with the strategy.

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: IT problems still hound Census as it readies count

GAO warns needed fixes to major systems might not be finished before it starts counting citizens who didn’t return forms, but bureau officials say they will be ready in time.

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: GSA chief says agency will ‘up its game’ with technology

Administrator Martha Johnson says improving the flow of information and data, and more reliance on social media will provide better service to agencies and will be what drives growth.

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: Audit blames OMB's lack of guidance for shoddy contracting data

But agencies also are responsible for accurate reporting of contract award spending, analysts say.

Oversight

Postal Service outlines plan to stay afloat

Increased flexibility and eliminating Saturday delivery are critical to long-term financial viability, officials say.