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Month: October 2018

Modernizing the Federal Workforce

Transformation of the Federal Workforce

The current Administration says it is making progress towards transforming the federal workforce and framework that governs it. Over the summer, low-scoring agencies improved employee engagement and chose executives to lead upcoming workforce initiatives.

Development is slow but headed in the direction of preparing the federal workforce for “future” skills while addressing hiring and performance management frustrations. The goal is to have a simplified hiring process, while giving agencies more flexibility, in place by March of 2019. (On average it took 106 days to hire a new employee in 2017.)

Employee and Performance Engagement

During the summer, NIH piloted a tool for employee and performance engagement, the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS). This tool has helped low-performing agencies find opportunities to improve employee engagement. OPM drafted guidance to help low-performing agencies improve the FEVS scores. In the future, all agencies will be asked to give OPM more detail on their plans to improve engagement.

Federal Workforce/ Private Sector Workforce

By April of 2019, results from a study of the federal government’s compensation package will be available to compare to the private sector.  Among other tasks, all supervisors and managers are scheduled to have performance management training, which will align the federal to the private sector workforce.

The goal of these new plans, measures, and tools is to prepare the federal workforce for future skills and address long-held performance management and hiring practices.

Please call EZGSA at 301-913-5000, if we can answer any questions.

What’s Going On PSS?

During the PSS “What’s New and Coming Soon” webinar this week, Lisa Norgren provided some updates and coming attractions. Among the most interesting/important points:

  • SSQ has a new interface! And it’s pretty! We tried using the sample search, it didn’t work. But that doesn’t mean yours won’t. One big change: you now must log in to perform a search.
  • 72a reporting is slowly migrating to a new FAS Sales Reporting Portal. Slowly, you ask? Yesss. The new system is being rolled out to some users, and the method seems haphazard. As we check the portal for all our clients, you may want to do the same. This ongoing migration will eventually replace the current system for all contractors.
  • The streamline process for PSS continues, with more updates expected early next year.
  • PSS SIN consolidation also continues, with more announcements expected by the middle of 2019.

As always, please contact us (301-913-5000) with any questions or concerns about the above. We are here to help!

Webinars, Seminars, and an Exposition

GSA is hosting several upcoming events:

October 8th -10th – The Association of the United States Army (AUSA) is holding their annual meeting and exposition October 8th – October 10th. The event will take place at the Washington, DC Convention Center with over 700 exhibits and 30,000 attendees and offers a great opportunity to meet Department of Defense decision makers. To register and obtain additional information, visit their website at  http://ausameetings.org/2018annualmeeting/ for additional information.

October 11th  – 1:00-3:00 PM EST  – Webinar offered by the Building Maintenance and Operations (BMO) and Delegation of Procurement Authority (DPA). An overview of the BMO acquisition strategy for the government-wide strategic sourcing contract vehicle and detailed ordering procedures. Eligible attendees who register will be provided a virtual meeting link prior to the training. https://www.gsa.gov/events/building-maintenance-and-operations-overview-dpa-training-virtual-892018

October 18th – 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST – Webinar offered by GSA Office of Travel, Transportation, and Logistics (TTL) Medium and Heavy Vehicle Branch (QMAAB). Expect training on Subcontracting Plans and reporting in the Electronic Subcontracting Reporting System (eSARS). It is recommended that large businesses required to have a Subcontracting Plan attend this meeting. It is strongly encouraged that questions be submitted in advance of the webinar. To join the meeting:

To join the meeting:

https://meet.gsa.gov/autovirtual/

Conference Number(s):

US (Toll): 1-719-325-2013

US (Toll-Free): 1-866-928-2008

Participant Code: 629681

 

Please give EZGSA a call if we can answer any questions at 301-913-5000.