DHS requires 'Hi, I'm a contractor' intro

Could the requirement undermine the teamwork
that's essential in a workforce?

Homeland Security Department officials want to draw a bright and shiny line between the two teams that work inside a federal department: the federal employees and the contractors.

Under DHS’ FirstSource II draft request for proposals, officials are telling contractor employees to announce in all interactions that they are not federal employees but are, instead, contractors.

For example, contractor employees must introduce themselves, in person and in voicemails, as employees of their companies. They cannot try to elide the difference by saying they work for DHS. And if they're employed by a subcontractor, they have to identify the company, not say they are employees of their prime contractor.

And federal Homeland Security Department officials—not to be confused with contractors—are suggestion that these announcements aren’t something for people to laugh about over lunch.

“Failure to adhere to this requirement may constitute grounds for termination for default of the base FirstSource II contract,” the draft states. Serious stuff.

The Defense Department has a similar rule. Contractors must announce, wherever they go, that they are contractor, not a federal employee. Officials instituted the rule in 2010.

The “Hi, I’m a contractor” rule may show who’s who in a conversation or meeting. But it won’t help in blending the workforce, some readers have said.

Contractors fear that the rule could undermine the teamwork that’s essential in that type of workforce.

“How do you maintain unity of community when segregation is forced?” a reader asked.

Read the Acquisitive Mind blog: FCW.com - DHS requires 'Hi, I'm a contractor' introduction

Restrictions seen hurting disaster recovery

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials should work with chief procurement regulators to avoid limits to subcontracting that could strain efforts to respond quickly to disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, according to a new report.

Richard Skinner, the Homeland Security Department's inspector general, wrote in a report released Aug. 4 that legislation passed by Congress in 2006 that restricts subcontracting by prime contractors could inhibit disaster responses and recovery work by FEMA or other DHS agencies.

Read the story: FCW.com News - Restrictions seen hurting disaster recovery

DHS' blended workforce worries senators

Members of a Senate committee are concerned that the Homeland Security Department continues to rely on contractors, instead of growing the expertise it needs internally, according to a new report.

The Senate Appropriations Committee said in a report accompanying a spending bill the panel approved June 19 that its members were concerned that contractors are performing work that is more appropriate for federal employees or contractors are doing work that comes close to inherently governmental functions.

Read the story: FCW.com News - DHS' blended workforce worries senators

DHS seeks new workforce formula

The Homeland Security Department has increased the number of contracting officers since 2004, but officials are trying to decide the department's optimal staffing level.

Read the story: FCW.com News - DHS seeks new workforce formula

DHS IG: Sharing information could save money

Agencies sometimes paid significantly more than necessary for the same type of debris removal and demolition work because they didn’t share contracting information, an audit has found.

The Homeland Security Department’s Office of the Inspector General said the Federal Emergency Management Agency did not check how much the Army Corps of Engineers or local governments were paying for the same post-Hurricane Katrina work throughout the New Orleans region, according to an Aug. 16 audit. As a result, contract costs varied widely from contract to contract, the IG said.

Read rest of the story: FCW.com News - DHS IG: Sharing information could save money

DHS has too many buying chiefs

Having too many chiefs can lead to confusion, which two lawmakers see happening at the Homeland Security Department, despite assurances from DHS that everyone is working with a clear sense of direction.

The lawmakers focused on two chiefs: DHS’ chief procurement officer and its chief acquisition officer, who also is undersecretary for management. The chief procurement officer oversees DHS’ procurement and contracting functions. The chief acquisition officer monitors acquisition performance and programs, making sure acquisitions are legal.

Read rest of the story: FCW.com News - DHS has too many buying chiefs