Last year’s Service to America Medals recipients united Haitian orphans with their adoptive families, worked to convict more than 600 sexual predators and developed equipment to boost survival rates among wounded soldiers. Starting today, the Partnership for Public Service is accepting nominations through Jan. 31 for the annual public service awards, known as the Sammies. The awards recognize civilian federal employees who have shown commitment to service and have made significant contributions in their fields. There are eight medal categories, including federal employee of the year, citizen services and management excellence. Winners are selected based on “impact of their work…
Yearly Archives: 2011
The Wall Street Journal reports today that Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, principal deputy commissioner at the Food and Drug Administration, is leaving to become the top public health official for the State of Maryland. As the Journal notes, Sharfstein’s departure has possible ramifications for the FDA’s oversight of drugs and medical devices. But there’s also a connection to the Obama administration’s performance management agenda. As Federal Times wrote back in September, Sharfstein has been the driving force behind creation of FDA-TRACK, a web site that monitors the agency’s performance in dozens of areas and was cited as a model for other…
Most federal executives exceed agency security requirements when using laptops and other devices inside the office but are less likely to do so while teleworking, according to a study released Tuesday by the Government Business Council. The survey of 232 executives, mostly in operations, found that 88 percent lock their computer screens when they’re away, and 77 percent only use secure network connections when at work. Outside the office, only 52 percent said they used these security measures. Overall, 97 percent said their agencies require at least a password or some form of authentication when accessing work on an agency-issued…
Companies seeking preferential treatment as veteran-owned or small businesses will first have to verify their status with the Veterans Affairs Department. Under the 2010 Veterans Benefits Act, VA has greater responsibilities to ensure that businesses competing for set-aside contracts are eligible. This applies to companies currently listed in VA’s Vendor Information Pages database. Since mid-December, the agency has contacted more than 13,000 businesses by e-mail and mail to notify them of the new deadline. Companies have 90 days to submit documentation to VA upon notification, or they will not be listed in the database, VA announced Monday. The verification…
Policy wonks, rejoice: The recently reborn Administrative Conference of the United States, or ACUS, is officially out with its first recommendation. The non-binding proposal, published in today’s Federal Register, was adopted by the conference in a plenary session last month and is aimed at improving agencies’ handling of rulemakings that could preempt state laws. It was the only recommendation approved during the two-day session, an ACUS spokeswoman said. First authorized in 1964, ACUS is an independent agency charged with promoting improvements in the efficiency, adequate and fairness of federal regulatory and grant programs, according to its founding statute, and compiled…