Defense

Bush picks Homeland Security management chief

Paul Schneider would replace Janet Hale, who was credited with helping unite the 22 legacy agencies and 180,000 workers that formed the department.

Tech

IRS chief warns tax industry of growing debate over online filing services

Mark Everson said Congress may order the agency to provide its own tax preparation services.

Management

Senate faces long post-election to-do list

Remaining work includes includes finishing nearly a half-trillion dollars worth of fiscal 2007 appropriations bills.

Tech

OMB: Management agenda will outlast Bush administration

Initiatives to address basic challenges for government will last, in some form, even without legislation, officials say.

Management

Forest Service moves hundreds of human resources jobs to New Mexico

Latest business consolidation slated to save the agency $22 million a year, but will cost some employees their jobs.

Management

Acquisition managers: We're overwhelmed with oversight

Growing scrutiny of contracting work could stifle innovation, according to industry group.

Defense

Protective service finalizes report on finances, but misses deadline

Lawmakers had asked for a description of how a budget shortfall developed at the Homeland Security division.

Tech

Treasury telecom procurement keeps bidders in suspense

Process of evaluating proposals – which were due Aug. 28 in the latest twist – is taking longer than expected.

Defense

Report: Improve measures to assess building security centers

The Federal Protective Service should find better ways to evaluate dispatch centers, such as tracking the time to respond to alarms, GAO says.

Defense

Defense begins issuing new identification cards

Upgrades to make cards compliant with presidential mandate are expected to boost efficiency, protect privacy and guard against identity theft.

Management

Chain Reaction

Systems thinking gets planners to consider the downstream effects of decisions.

Management

Outsourcing of tax debt collection may not pay off in short term

IRS projections show costs may outpace collections; GAO urges accounting changes to reflect contractor fees.

Tech

GSA changes strategy for identification card contracts

In an attempt to achieve more competitive pricing, GSA opens up its contract for end-to-end card services to its schedules program.

Tech

GSA not interested in contracting 'monopoly,' official says

But head of Federal Acquisition Service says agency should be only provider of some services, such as telecommunications and credit cards.

Tech

Panel: Performance-based contracting slow to get traction

Acquisition advisory committee found that 42 percent of contracts classified as performance-based weren’t.

Management

IG: Iraq contractor abused rules to limit release of data

Use of “proprietary” designation on documents not justified under bid and proposal rules, auditors say.

Defense

Drop in immigration arrests might nix need for more jail beds

DHS agency steps up immigration-related investigations of businesses.

Tech

Clearance applications not processed within target times

Average time for initial clearances granted in early 2006 was 446 days, GAO finds.

Management

Ex-procurement chief gets 18 months in prison

David Safavian's lawyer will argue for release on bond during appeal.

Tech

Federal employees begin receiving new ID cards

Presidential directive required agencies to distribute new high tech credentials to at least one worker by Friday.