GovExec.com The Management Agenda - August 31, 2004
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August 31, 2004
* GSA to make new procurement database widely accessible
* Agencies misuse classification authority, managers say
* Medicare officials seek to boost use of discount drug cards
* OMB sets new standards for e-government grades
* Administration renews focus on reducing improper payments
* Bush issues order boosting CIA director's authority
* Agency pushing Los Alamos to resume projects too soon, critics say
* This week's column: Outlook
* Quote of the week
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1. GSA to make new procurement database widely accessible
By Amelia Gruber
Citizens will have free access to most information collected and stored in a recently
overhauled central database of government procurement records, General Services
Administration officials announced Wednesday.
Reports generated from the Federal Procurement Data System - Next Generation will be
available at no cost, and citizens can also submit specialized queries, said David
Drabkin, GSA's deputy chief acquisition officer and senior procurement executive.
Organizations or citizens wishing to access the raw data will need to pay a one-time
fee of $2,500 to cover the cost of connecting to the system.
FPDS-NG debuted last October and is designed to replace the 26-year-old FPDS system,
which tracks the government's purchases. GSA officials expect the modernized
repository to enhance the quality and timeliness of procurement data.
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/082604a1.htm }
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/082604a1.htm
_____
2. Agencies misuse classification authority, managers say
By Chris Strohm
Government officials said last week that federal agencies improperly classify at least
half of all documents, adding that senior managers have a responsibility to set a tone
and provide adequate training that prevents abuse of classification authorities.
"It is no secret that the government classifies too much information," William
Leonard, director of the Information Security Oversight Office, told the House
Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and
International Relations. He said the amount of improperly classified information has
been "disturbingly increasing" since last year in "clear, blatant violation" of
regulations.
A recent focus on classification issues has prompted reviews by federal agencies and
departments. For example, the Defense Department is reviewing whether it properly
classified information in reports on abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, and
whether documents related to pre-war Iraq and Afghanistan can be declassified, said
Carol Haave, Defense undersecretary for counterintelligence and security.
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/082404c1.htm }
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/082404c1.htm
_____
3. Medicare officials seek to boost use of discount drug cards
By Marilyn Werber Serafini, National Journal
The temporary discount drug cards created under the new Medicare law can save senior
citizens as much as 18 percent off retail prices on brand-name drugs, and 65 percent
off national average prices for generic drugs, boasts Mark McClellan, Medicare's
administrator. Moreover, if seniors switch some of their brand-name drugs to generics,
the savings can be as great as 92 percent off retail prices. The cards cost $30 a year
at most, and some are free.
So, if the card is such a no-brainer, then why aren't seniors pushing their way to the
front of the line? Why the slow uptake?
At the end of July, two months after the cards took effect, 4 million Medicare
beneficiaries had a card, out of 33 million eligible people. And only 1.7 million had
signed up on their own, while the other 58 percent had been enrolled automatically by
their Medicare HMOs. About 1 million people were getting the $600 federal subsidy
available to low-income beneficiaries, even though 7.2 million were eligible because
their incomes fell below cutoff levels ($12,569 for individuals and $16,862 for
couples). Even though such eye-opening savings are available, finding the best card is
difficult, and many angry seniors refuse to try the system out.
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/082704nj1.htm }
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/082704nj1.htm
_____
4. OMB sets new standards for e-government grades
By Amelia Gruber
The Office of Management and Budget handed agency chief information officers more
information last week on what's needed to achieve top grades for managing e-government
projects.
To reach a green light--the highest possible mark--in e-government on OMB's quarterly
management score card, agencies must show that they use a technique called "earned
value management" to justify and track technology investments, according to an Aug. 23
memorandum. The technique entails determining the level at which existing IT systems
perform and analyzing the extent to which a given investment has enhanced that
baseline performance.
Karen Evans, OMB's e-government administrator, said agencies striving for top
e-government marks must show they use the earned value management technique to
evaluate projects, and must indicate whether investments are boosting performance as
much as expected.
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/082404a1.htm }
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/082404a1.htm
_____
5. Administration renews focus on reducing improper payments
By Amelia Gruber
The Bush administration is searching for more cost-effective methods of tracking and
reducing improper payments to beneficiaries of government programs and is considering
subjecting federal agencies to more rigorous audit requirements, according to an
Office of Management and Budget report.
To help agencies comply with the 2002 Improper Payments Information Act (H.R. 4878) at
minimal expense, OMB and the Chief Financial Officers Council are developing
standardized techniques for identifying and reporting payment errors, said Office of
Management and Budget Controller Linda Springer in an OMB report on governmentwide
efforts to improve financial management. Mistakes typically occur when agencies
distribute benefits to ineligible applicants, over- or underpay beneficiaries, or send
out duplicate payments.
The 2002 law requires agencies to identify payment errors and devise plans for
correcting those that add up to more than $10 million or more than 2.5 percent of a
program's spending. They then must set targets for reducing mistakes. Agencies are
trying to comply, but are having a difficult time setting appropriate targets,
especially for more complex programs, Springer said.
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/082704a1.htm }
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/082704a1.htm
_____
Brought to you by Monster Government Solutions and the Human Capital Institute
{ Link:
http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;10422938;5622871;h?http://www.govsolutions.monster.com/seminars1/
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Human Capital Metrics: Measuring Your Success
How do high performance organizations leverage metrics to efficiently and effectively
manage their HR efforts? Join us at this complimentary seminar for a look at the
latest trends and applications in human capital metrics.
Thursday, September 16th from 8am - 10am at The Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC
{ Link:
http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;10422938;5622871;h?http://www.govsolutions.monster.com/seminars1/
}
REGISTER NOW for "Human Capital Metrics: Measuring Your Success" breakfast seminar
_____
6. Bush issues order boosting CIA director's authority
President Bush Friday issued a series of executive orders designed to address
recommendations of the recent special commission on the Sept. 11 attacks.
One order gives the CIA chief interim authority to perform many of the the functions
envisioned for the national intelligence director proposed by the 9/11 commission,
overseeing all 15 of the intelligence agencies in government.
Another executive order creates a National Counterterrorism Center, with the authority
to direct operations in a number of areas, including military and law enforcement
affairs. A third order establishes guidelines for information sharing among
intelligence agencies.
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/082704gsn1.htm }
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/082704gsn1.htm
_____
7. Agency pushing Los Alamos to resume projects too soon, critics say
By Amelia Gruber
An independent oversight agency is pushing Los Alamos National Laboratory to resume
risky projects before officials can adequately address security gaps exposed last
month, watchdog group investigators charged Wednesday.
Investigators from the Project on Government Oversight alleged that the Defense
Nuclear Facilities Safety Board is "shirking its duty" by offering to help the
National Nuclear Security Administration relax the precautions Los Alamos must take
before continuing work posing significant safety risks.
The safety board, established by Congress in 1988 to oversee safety at government
nuclear installations, is emphasizing efficiency over the well-being of lab employees
and people living near the New Mexico facility, the nonprofit organization claimed in
a press statement.
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/082504a1.htm }
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/082504a1.htm
_____
8. This week's column: Outlook
Money Talks
For pay-for-performance systems to work, agencies need the budgets to back them up.
Full column: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/083004ol.htm }
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0804/083004ol.htm
_____
9. Quote of the Week:
"Seniors are confused, frustrated, and angry about the cards, and with reason."
-- Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., criticizing Medicare's handling of the temporary {
Link: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=29338&dcn=todaysnews }
discount drug card program, which has failed to generate widespread interest among
seniors.
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