It is Time to Take the GSA Schedules to the Next Level

On August 22, 2013, GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) posted a blog entitled “OASIS: What You Need to Know About GSA’s Plan to Reduce Contract Duplication.” The blog correctly notes that OASIS can play a positive role in reducing contract duplication by delivering best value, cost effective service solutions for customer agencies. At the sameRead… Read more »

Tips for empowering customer service employees

Customer service is a core function of government, yet 60 percent of government executives describe citizens’ attitudes toward government as “frustrated,” according to a recent Government Business Council survey. One way to improve the reputation of your organization is to empower frontline employees so they can provide better customer service. Excellent customer service is aRead… Read more »

Three Chords and the Truth

Sunday, I was watching Justine win the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, flipped the channel and caught the 2000 E Street Band Reunion Tour Concert, Madison Square Garden, on VH1. There they were, Clarence, Bruce, Max, Nils, Steve, Patti, Garry, and Danny Glock living the dream, the home crowd carrying them through Badlands, sending the chorusRead… Read more »

DoD, VA Pool $107M Into Brain Injury-PTSD Research Efforts

The departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have jointly invested $107 million for medical research efforts focused on treating mild traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. Research organizations will work to develop new ways for diagnosing and treating the conditions under the five-year initiative, the VA said Aug. 10. Funding will back studies underRead… Read more »

What if all government employees were trained on how to save energy at work and at home?

That would be 50 million plus who would understand how to lower greenhouse gas emissions! WOW! Once their families and friends know what they can specifically do in daily life practices and in their offices. So let’s ask ourselves, what if 50 million people in the US actually change their consumption behavior? What if lightsRead… Read more »

Weekly Round-up: August 23, 2013

Gadi Ben-Yehuda This week is all about guidance. Expanding Open Data Guidance. NextGov reports that “The White House is expanding guidance on promoting open data.” Related: Ben Rooney of the Wall Street Journal argues that “Open Government and Open Data Are Not The Same Thing” Guidance on Emails. Forbes rounds up “The 23 Unwritten RulesRead… Read more »

An interview with Linda Cureton

By Ryan Kamauff In this podcast I interviewed Linda Cureton, CEO and Founder of Muse Technologies. Linda was formerly the CIO of NASA, and an accomplished author. Muse Technologies offers consulting services, strategy development and program development. As the CIO of NASA, Linda was key in implementing numerous advancements, including one of the largest cloudsRead… Read more »

Is it possible to deliver a government agency’s standard IT systems on a single USB?

CSIR Mk 1 with Hollerith equipment, Sydney 1952 Source: Museum Victoria The Australian government was one of the earliest adopters of computers and computerisation. CSIRAC (or CSIR Mk1), the first computer in Australia (and now the oldest surviving first-generation electronic computer), was used by scientists within CSIRO, by the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Authority andRead… Read more »

Understanding the Federal Application is Not Easy!

Each day I receive many phone calls about the frustrations of applying for a federal job. Being a good listener and a compassionate heart is needed to ease the stress of each frantic caller. I always reply “I know what you are going through.” After having been a government contractor for over 10 years, IRead… Read more »