In a long-running case, a vendor of computer vision software protested a National Geospatial Intelligence Agency award to systems integrator CACI, which was going to develop its own computer vision software. The protestor, Percipient, had not bid. But Percipient did filed in the Court of Federal Claims on the basis that the government is obligated …

Contractors trying to plan ahead often turn to procurement plans that agencies post on their websites. An annual assessment of the forecasts shows that some are actually excellent, like at Homeland Security. Others are terrible, like the one at the Army. For more on this, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin talked with the President and CEO of the Profess…

Weapons take too long to develop and field. Dozens of Defense Department acquisition programs are late, slow or over budget. That is the general sense of the latest annual assessment by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). For highlights and what it all means, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with GAO's director of contracting and national…

The IRS recently installed a new chief of its Criminal Investigation branch. He is a 29-year IRS veteran. The agency's law-enforcement wing is responsible for enforcing tax laws and aiding in federal financial-crime investigations. For what his plans are, Federal News Network's Eric White checked in with Guy Ficco. Learn more about your ad choices.…

On this episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: A changing of the guard for the IRS law-enforcement wing. Why DoD has so much trouble delivering new weapons to the front lines. What happens when a company that didn't bid, files an award protest? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A new contract for employees at the Environmental Protection Agency has some new assurances that allow scientists to discuss their work more freely. The new contract has a provision protecting scientific integrity. For more, Federal News Network's Eric White spoke to Jeff Ruch of the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). Learn m…

Modernizing digital services and making sure they stay secure requires good identity management. Especially if there is money or financial transactions involved. For how the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service approaches it, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin recently I spoke with Joe Gioeli, deputy commissioner for transformation and modernization. …

On this episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: Even when the government itself is your constituent, you need good identity management. Why some EPA employees are happy about what's in their new labor agreement. Contractors find some agency buying forecasts are better then others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

In the House, it's one down and 11 to go for the appropriations bills that make up the federal budget for 2025. And lawmakers are set to make a lot of progress over the next several weeks, with an aggressive schedule of votes coming up. Loren Duggan is Deputy News Director at Bloomberg Government. He spoke with Federal News Network's Jared Serbu. L…

For a variety of jobs, federal agencies have been removing college degree requirements in favor of experience. Turns out, state government is way ahead on this matter, according to researchers at Brookings. To discuss their findings, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with two of those researchers, Justin Heck and Blair Corcoran de Castillo. Learn …

The IRS has made progress in customer service, especially for people calling its Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs). But the TACs still have issues, such as difficulty in dealing with calls to change appointments. In fact, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) has a few recommendations for the IRS in this regard. For details…

On today's episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: IRS taxpayer assistance centers still have some work to do on the customer service front. State governments are leading the way in revising job requirements. In the House, a flurry of activity on 2025 federal spending, but not many signs of bipartisanship. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis…

Especially in the federal government, change often happens slowly. But the Office of Personnel Management said it’s seeing early indications that its efforts to reform federal recruitment are starting to pay off. OPM’s initiatives over the last couple years, such as banning the consideration of salary history, creating a job portal for internship o…

When thinking about agencies that gather intelligence, the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research might not come to mind. Yet, in a world where usable intel is more important than ever to decision-making, the bureau seems to have gotten more right about world events than most. Dylan Matthews is a senior correspondent with Vox, who r…

TSP investors seem to be getting more aggressive, judging by the mix of funds they're investing in. The safe but slow-growing G-fund is no longer the favorite. With analysis of what's going on, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin talk with certified financial planner Arthur Stein of Arthur Stein Financial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone…

Job postings for certain cybersecurity positions have dropped so much, it is affecting national security. One survey shows fewer openings in insider-threat analysis, product-security engineering, and DevSecOps. That is according to analysis by a company called Cyber S-N, which helps clients manage cybersecurity talent. For the details, Federal Driv…

On today's episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: By one count, the cybersecurity job market is running dry. Why retirement investment is a three-legged stool. The government's best intelligence entity may not be the agency you think it is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

The Energy Department’s cybersecurity office will work with cloud service providers and the renewable energy industry this year to help delineate cyber protection requirements for the sector. The work is being led out of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER). It comes amid growing concerns about hackers i…

The Coast Guard’s failure to provide Congress with sufficient information regarding the service’s handling of sexual assault cases points to a “continuing culture of cover-up,” lawmakers said Tuesday during a highly-anticipated congressional hearing on the Coast Guard’s investigation of sexual misconduct at the service’s academy. Last year, the Sen…

The Air Force is in the very early stages of a restructuring that could have a big impact on how airmen deploy for combat missions, and an even bigger one on how the service is organized. The overall goal is to get the Air Force more ready to fight against high-end adversaries, but there are still some big questions about how the concept will work.…

Few occupations match the many dangers of coal mining. Even to this day, miners experience the dangers of mine collapses. Federal Drive Host Tom Temin's guest is a former coal miner and has devoted a federal career to improving mine safety. His platforms: The Bureau of Mines and, more recently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, which is pa…

The General Services Administration (GSA) deals with many governmentwide concerns, including real estate and office space. For more than 20 years, auditors at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) have considered federal real property management a high-risk issue. GAO recently reiterated a list of recommendations for the GSA on real estate. Fo…

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has changed a big part of the American landscape over the years. Established during the Franklin Roosevelt administration, TVA has a large cache of what are known as cultural heritage documents. With the deadline looming to present digitized records to the National Archives and Records Administration, Federal Dr…

On today's episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: How one agency deals with digitizing its rich trove of cultural heritage records. GSA gets a refreshed set of recommendations for dealing with real property. A federal effort that reduced the danger of coal mining. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation leaders say employees are suffering from low morale, and that the agency is facing long-term recruitment challenges, as it deals with reports of a toxic workplace environment. Officials overseeing reforms at FDIC told members of the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday that the agency needs a “fresh …

Complaints coming from contractors on the General Services Administration's multiple-award schedule. They say contracting officers are trying to re-negotiate finished contracts and making unreasonable demands for information. For more, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin talked with federal sales and marketing consultant Larry Allen. Learn more about your…

Dogs are more than pets. They assist the blind, the emotionally troubled, and people stuck in hospitals. Dogs do countless tasks in law enforcement, military operations and national security. Now a bill in Congress would instruct the U.S. Mint to make coins that commemorate service dogs. Surcharges would go to an organization called America's Vet D…