Federal Drive with Tom Temin

On this episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: This Defense Department challenge brought in 200 great ideas for talent management. Problems surfacein government audits of trillions in grants. This contractor's dispute over cost accounting standards hasroots dating back17 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sikorsky Aircraft and the Defense Department have been arguing in court for the past 17 years, over the company's compliance with cost-accounting standards. One reason it has been running so long is the government keeps asserting violations but takes no action. For more on the importance of this case, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Haynes Boone procurement attorney Zach Prince. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If your agency gives grants, you probably know about the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. That's where so-called single audits go. Single audits of spending by non-federal grant or aid recipients are required by law. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) found the whole clearinghouse process, operated by the General Services Administration, has a few problems. Agencies don't have the data they need to do single audits. For the details, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with GAO's Director of Financial Management and Assurance, Jim Dalkin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last year the Defense Department staged an innovation challenge. It wanted new ideas for talent management. And did it ever get them. It got 200 ideas. Now officials have picked nine finalists. For an update, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with program analyst Beth Stewart and challenge director Dr. Jeannette Haynie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many of the companies who currently handle military household goods moves have been vocal in their criticism of DoD’s new contract to overhaul the system. Up until now, they’ve been pressing the department to make changes to the Global Household Goods contract (GHC). Now though, under the auspices of a new coalition called Movers for America, they’re looking to stop its implementation altogether. Although GHC has been in the works for years — the final solicitation was issued in 2019 — implementation is only now beginning, because of a series of bid protests and technical challenges. HomeSafe, the eventual winner of the up-to-$17.9 billion contract, only began moving shipments via its subcontractors last month. Tim Helenthal, the CEO of National Van Lines and a member of the new Movers for America group, said DoD’s established moving companies have been working for months with U.S. Transportation Command to resolve their concerns, but without any real success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The State Department, looking back at 100 years since the birth of the modern Foreign Service, is highlighting the steps it’s taking to recruit, hire and train the next generation of diplomats. The department brought together current and former members of the Foreign Service and civil service last Friday at its headquarters, in celebrationof Foreign Affairs Day. Later this month, on May 24, the department will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Rogers Act, which established the diplomatic agency as a career and merit-based civil service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to software development, the Army is going to stop worrying about the color of money. That’s because as part of its new approach to software modernization, the Army is rethinking what sustainment means. Margaret Boatner is the deputy assistant secretary of the Army for strategy and acquisition reform, said one of the main tenets of the policy signed by Army Secretary Christine Wormuth in March is to reform several legacy processes that is keeping the service from adopting modern software development approaches. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Changes are coming to how arms manufacturers do business internationally. That is thanks to proposed changes in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). In fact, comments are due by the end of May. For details, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin talked with Stephanie Kostro, Executive Vice President for Policy at the Professional Services Council. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Veterans Affairs has made a major change in the rules for veterans who left military service with other-than honorable discharges. It opens the possibility of healthcare coverage for those who may have been discharged for willful misconduct or even moral turpitude. For detail, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Anthony Kuhn, Managing Partner of the law firm Tully Rinckey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Constitution gives citizens the right to petition the government. In the 21st century, that is a complicated and expensive process, unless you are a professional lobbyist. Now the White House has launched an effort to make it easier for people to engage with the government. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) calls the effort a new federal framework for public participation. For details, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin talks with OMB's Associate Director for Performance and Personnel Management, Loren Schulman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices