Federal Manager's Daily Report: Wednesday, November 24, 2004 FEDweek is the largest information resource in the federal government with now over one million weekly readers. To Subscribe, Go to http://www.fedweek.com/subscribepopup.htm *********************************************************** Valued Added Service to Our Readers:
Federal Job Search http://www.fedweek.com/Jobs/default.asp Job Bulletin Board http://www.fedweek.com/Jobs/default.asp Unlimited Internet Access for as low as $10.90 http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294983968/717157/222/0/ Our Readers Will Get Special Discounted Travel Rates Including, Airfare, Hotels, RV's, Car Rentals, and Special Weekend Getaways--Anywhere in the world http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294983968/717157/339/0/ ********************************************************** In This Week's Issue 1. Agencies Sign Environment-Friendly IT Agreement 2. Large Numbers of Computers at Issue 3. GAO: Problems Remain as Security Improves at Postal Facilities *********************************************************** 1. Agencies Sign Environment-Friendly IT Agreement The Office of the Federal Environmental Executive has signed a memorandum of understanding with eleven federal departments and agencies, "to develop and promote common strategies for using environmentally sustainable technologies and practices to improve the quality, performance, and environmental management of federal electronic assets throughout their lifecycle." Edwin Pi�ero, the Federal Environmental Executive stated, "The combined purchasing power of the eleven agencies and departments who became charter signatories represents approximately $50 billion, or 83 percent of the total annual IT budget for the federal government," and the executive office wants to use that clout to "shift the marketplace toward more environmentally-sound electronic products and services." "Our combined purchasing power will help to transform the availability of IT products and services that are environmentally sustainable in the federal marketplace," said Pi�ero, adding that it would become available outside government as well. 2. Large Numbers of Computers at Issue According to OFEE, the United States discarded more than 2 million tons of electronics in 2001 based on a three-year lifecycle, the federal government gets rid of 10,000 computers every week -- and this waste ends up in storage or in landfills at home or abroad. The signatories include the Executive Office of the President, Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Interior, Justice, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Environmental Protection Agency, and General Services Administration. By signing the agreement they have pledged to demand more energy efficient and eco-friendly electronic equipment, to implement progressive lifecycle management practices for equipment, to promote the reuse, "de-manufacturing," and recycling of obsolete equipment, as well as to coordinate other efforts, including in the private sector, aimed at similar objectives, according to OFEE. The agreement is available at www.ofee.gov. 3. GAO: Problems Remain as Security Improves at Postal Facilities Physical security has increased at certain large postal facilities that perform automated mail-sorting functions, but some problems remain, the Governmental Accountability Office has said. It said USPS has created an emergency preparedness group to ensure security standards are followed, and that its inspection service is working with local and headquarters management to improve facility security and has filed most of its 47 new physical security specialist positions. Additionally, USPS is updating its facility security database, something GAO says has the potential to identify and track specific facility security issues nationwide though it currently "has problems such as missing and incomplete data, duplicate responses, and miscoded facilities," according to GAO-05-48. However, GAO's analysis of inspection service reports, as well as site visits to 13 of these "core" facilities revealed security problems, "such as facility and vehicle keys unaccounted for, doors and gates left unlocked or alarms deactivated, mail and stamp inventory left unsecured, and employees not wearing identification badges as required." The postal service uses memos to increase management's awareness of security issues and to reinforce physical security requirements -- and although it has established requirements for issues such as personnel access and exterior lighting, laid them out in a handbook and made them mandatory for new facilities, GAO reported that "incomplete and inaccurate USPS data" prevented it from assessing changes in the implementation of security measures at all these facilities. Published by FEDweek 11541 Nuckols Rd. Suite D Glen Allen, VA 23059 (804) 288-5321 Website: http://www.fedweek.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are subscribed to federalmanagersdailyreport as [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
