Weekly Roundup: July 23-27, 2018
Submitted by JKamensky on Fri, 07/27/2018 - 16:31
Friday, July 27, 2018
John Kamensky
Changes in Buying Strategies for Services. Federal News Radio reports:” Changes are coming in the way the General Services Administration purchases services. In April the Office of Federal Procurement Policy released a new strategy to use category management to reduce multiple award contracts, and contractors will begin seeing the results soon.”
Breaking Up at OPM. Federal News Radio reports: “Following the General Services Administration’s lead, the Office of Personnel Management named an experienced executive to lead its reorganization effort. . . Sources confirmed Kathleen McGettigan, OPM’s chief management officer, is heading up the intra-agency task force to “break up” the agency under the Trump administration reorganization plan. . . . Meanwhile FCW reports: “GSA Administrator Emily Murphy said merging OPM's functions into GSA would lead to IT modernization and improved service delivery "on both sides of the equation."
GSA to Eat Own Dog Food. Federal News Radio reports: “The number of employees working at the General Services Administration’s headquarters building will grow by 1,000 over the next year.” According to GSA Administrator Emily Murphy: “As we encourage and lead other agencies to improve their utilization rates and save money through real estate management, it is important that we lead by example.”
Opportunities for Reforming Grants Management. GAO testified before a House committee on” Recent and proposed initiatives aimed at grants management reform present opportunities to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency of federal grants.”
Rethink Mission Delivery. Dave Wennegren wrote a “how to” piece on LinkedIn about rethinking mission delivery by digitally transforming your organization.
Using Evidence to Management SSA Disability Program. GAO testified on the need to use better metrics and evaluation in order to better inform decision-making.
DOD Reorg. Defense News reports: “The Defense Information Systems Agency and other so-called fourth estate agencies were spared the ax, but a potpourri of Pentagon organizational changes have made it into this year’s massive, must-pass defense authorization bill.”
Using Evidence in Strategic Planning. In a commentary piece for Government Executive, Andy Feldman writes: “Why do so many strategic plans by government agencies and jurisdictions fail, ending up on the shelf as expensive paperweights? . . . One reason is that, too often, they’re developed by a narrow group—usually a strategic planning team working with leadership.”
GEARing Up. Federal Computer Week reports: “The White House is seeking input on how to create a public/private Government Effectiveness Advanced Research (GEAR) Center that would focus on boosting the government's mission delivery and citizen services. . . . According to a request for information issued on July 23 by the White House, the GEAR Center would be a nongovernmental, public/private partnership that "would address operational and strategic challenges facing the federal government" now and into the future.”
Michael J. Keegan
Watchdog: Government cyber defenses lag as attacks evolve. Legacy IT systems continue to limit the overall effectiveness of other cybersecurity solutions, federal CIO Suzette Kent said at a July 25 House hearing.
Proposed OPM-GSA merger includes IT consolidation. As part of a proposed shift of most of OPM's function to GSA, officials plan a sharp consolidation of HR systems and the digitization of paper-based health and retirement records.
DOD adds $1.1 billion to health record contract. The Military Health System is adding funds to its electronic health record contract to support a common baseline with the Department of Veterans Affairs and add advanced functionality.
White House looks to GEAR up. The Trump administration wants input on a new center that would bring together government and industry researchers and academics to help modernize processes and services.
USMC names new CIO . Brig. Gen. Lorna Mahlock takes over as CIO at the U.S. Marine Corps
Next Week on The Business of Government Hour: Conversations with Authors: Jacqueline Carter on the Mind of a Leader. What are key leadership qualities for a digital age? How can you become a Mindful Leader? What tools and practices can be employed to better lead yourselves, your teams, and your organizations. Join host Michael Keegan next week on The Business of Government Hour as he explores these questions and more with Jacqueline Carter, co-author of The Mind of the Leader: How to Lead Yourself, Your People, and Your Organization for Extraordinary Results. That's next week on The Business of Government Hour.
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