Congress Takes First Step on the FY2009 Budget
Source: INPUT B2G Exchange Blog
Both the House and Senate passed non-binding budget resolutions for FY09, increasing discretionary spending slightly over the President’s Budget request.
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| “While we applaud Congress' efforts to remove uncertainty in Federal spending, we're still very early in the process. Budget resolutions are only "proposals" for the Congressional Appropriations Committees to consider as they work through the appropriations process.” -Deniece Peterson, Senior Analyst, Industry Analysis |
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U.S. Space Policy and the 2008 Presidential Elections: Will NASA Be “Lost in Space”?
Source: INPUT B2G Exchange Blog
With all the attention on the 2008 Presidential Elections, what are the candidates saying about US Space Policy? Of the three, former candidate Hillary Clinton has provided the most detailed policy position thus far. Mr. Obama has expressed overall support for keeping America at the forefront of space exploration and he has specifically stated that if elected he will continue to back the development of the Ares I Launch Vehicle and the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). For his part, Republican candidate John McCain has taken a "carrot and stick" approach.
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| “Regardless of who wins the next presidential election, NASA personnel have to be nervous about the future. The ballooning federal budget deficit and increasing failure of the American educational system to provide the skilled personnel required by NASA do not paint a rosy picture for the years to come. In the meantime, NASA faces pressing immediate needs. Critical programs, like Ares I, are falling further and further behind schedule due to budget shortfalls even as the retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2010 looms ahead.” -Alex Rossino, Analyst, Federal |
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FAA Cultural Revolution
Source: INPUT B2G Exchange Blog
The FAA is looking for help from industry to transform the organizational culture of its Air Traffic Organization. With a workforce of 35,000 and a history of complex cultural dynamics, it will be a challenge.
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| “FAA's cultural issues are not unique. With the incremental movement towards acquisition reform, we wonder if Congressional committee members have considered the role of culture within the IT project failures plaguing government. Will new acquisition rules solve the problems as expected if organizational culture and change management aren't part of the equation at the agency level?” -Deniece Peterson, Senior Analyst, Industry Analysis |
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Office of Personnel Management: RetireEZ does not live up to its name
Source: INPUT B2G Exchange Blog
The Office of Personnel Management issued a press release on May 29, 2008 stating that they have suspended a portion of the so-called RetireEZ contract. The contract was awarded to Hewitt Associates for Retirement Systems Modernization (RSM) on May 3, 2006 to the tune of $290M over 10 years. OPM issued a Stop Work Order and a Show Cause Notice to Hewitt Associates with a 10 day response period.
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| “Of the three main components of the RetireEZ program, only the calculation engine is affected by the stop work order, the other two components (data conversion and change management) will continue being developed. It is unlikely the OPM will cancel the Hewitt contract. The Government is committed to this much needed modernization project and it is estimated that termination will be used as a last resort.” -Vajira Ranaviraja |
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May 2008 Federal M&A Recap
Source: INPUT B2G Exchange Blog
A blockbuster month for big deals.
»List of deals
