Federal Drive with Tom Temin

The U.S. Agency for International Development has always used private sector groups to deliver services in various countries. Now the agency has launched what it calls Private Sector Engagement Modernize, to deal with the private sector in a new way. For the whys and hows, Federal Drive host Tom Temin spoke with the Executive Director of USAID's private sector engagement hub, Michael Metzler. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A shift in power in the House brings with it looming threats to agency leaders, by putting them at risk of deeper and likely more adversarial investigations. Republican leaders on the Oversight and Accountability Committee have already promised to carry out exactly what the new committee name suggests: accountability. As Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the committee’s chairman, organizes his plans to zero in on more robust oversight of the Biden administration, career feds should prepare to position themselves more assertively. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Defense Department is telling its acquisition people to use what's known as category management to expand the use of small business. But for years, small business has argued that category management actually limits the number of vendors who can sell to government. To help analyze the matter, Federal Drive host Tom Temin spoke with Professional Services Council President & CEO, David Berteau. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In order to know whether they get a fair price for something, the armed forces need to know the cost of making it. That's where the cost estimating and discovery part of acquisition comes in. For her work, Stephanie Quintal, Deputy Cost Chief of the Air Force, won one of this year's Defense Acquisition Workforce Awards. She's spoke with Federal Drive host Tom Temin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress went out of business with the conclusion of the 117th Congress. But the committee's long list of recommendations will continue under a new subcommittee. The former select committee chair, Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.) discussed this in a Q-and-A with U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive VP Tom Quaadman at a Chamber event in D.C. on Friday, February 3. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The White House officially got the ball rolling on the 14th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation (QRMC) Jan. 31, with a mandated look at whether service members are paid enough in current economic conditions. The memorandum directs the Secretary of Defense to complete the review within two years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: This bipartisan bill would give the GSA new cybersecurity responsibility An old lesson worth relearning: The best acquisitions start with the best requirements Congress will get some fresh bait to fight over this week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Susan, a primary care psychologist at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, moved to Japan four years ago because she and her husband wanted to experience the world. A safe country with world-class infrastructure seemed an ideal place to raise their first child. Well... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the military, nothing much happens without good requirements. Vic Steinman is the air warfare requirements coordinator for the Navy. His work earned him a Defense Acquisition Workforce Award. Federal Drive host Tom Temin will be interviewing several of the award winners, all of whom are Defense Department civilians. First, right here, Mr. Steinman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress will be particularly partisan this week. It's the week of the State-of-the-Union Address, with a governor and former Trump administration press spokeswoman giving the response to President Biden. Fun. For more of what's going on, Federal Drive host Tom Temin spoke with Bloomberg Government Deputy News Director Loren Duggan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A bill before the House would create a new cadre of people to help the government in case of a serious cyber attack. The National Digital Reserve Corps would be managed by the General Services Administration. To learn more about the Corps, Federal Drive host Tom Temin spoke with Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Biden administration this spring plans to end the national emergency declarations that started with the COVID-19 pandemic, but agency watchdogs are still uncovering the full scope of fraud that stems from $5 trillion in pandemic spending. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Federal Drive: When it comes to modernizing back office functions across the government, sometimes you have to start at the bottom The latest from a foundation dedicated to military medicine Is the government's cyber policy moving from partnership to command-and-control? SSA is focusing on two key concepts with its new IT strategic plan The National Science Foundation has confirmed that all of its excepted service employees will get a raise this year Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cybersecurity in the private sector has long been a matter of collaboration. Companies and sectors worked with government to establish risk management approaches to what companies would ultimately decide to do. Our next guest believes that statements coming from the administration signal a move to cyber regulations, mandates and oversight. Attorney Megan Brown, a partner at Wiley Rein, talked about it with Tom Temin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A foundation dedicated to the furthering military medicine is about to celebrate 40 years. It was signed into law by President Reagan, and later named for the Senator who sponsor the bill authorizing it. For what it does and how it works with the military, the president and CEO of the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Dr. Joseph Caravalho, talked with Tom Temin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices