SAVE Award 2011 Ideas

Being a college student, I really don't have a budget to get items I need ( like books, hangers, whatever) so I often turn to the service Freecycle--which I guess inspired me with this idea. Since each Department is complied of many offices, I think we should create an inter-office supply network. Similar to the website/program Freecylce, offices within each Department can post wanted ads for supplies they need and offices... more »

We continue to use Lockheed Martin as our main supplier for equipment (computers, etc) and we pay 2x as much as retail, not too mention a monthly service charge for support. This is just not necessary and the support should be based on a per call basis. If i never have issues with my computer, why should i be charged a monthly fee...since i never contact support?

In the last few years over 20 states have deregulated the energy suppliers in their state. This means that both gas and electricity suppliers are now competitive markets in those states. Just by researching each states energy suppliers and changing the energy supplier to a cheaper company, could save anywhere from 5-25% a year in electric and/or gas supply costs the government is paying on utility bills. In some cases... more »

Something that I have noticed in my 2 yrs of civil service is that the government spends so much money on office supplies. For example ordering document protectors @ $25/for a box of 50 is ridiculous when you can get them from places like Office Depot @ $10/for a box of 50. That highlighter that you are using cost the government about $8/9 for a box of 6, when it could have been purchased for $3/$4 for a box of 6 at Office... more »

The cost threshold to make it economic to repair anything is currently $5,000. If we partnered with a commercial supply company such as Lowes and had them create a software program for ordering parts, we could reduce costs, capture necessary data and make it economical to repair things that we currently throw away because they cost less than $5,000. Sailors currently go to the local hardware store for items, we find... more »

Stop storing humidity sensitive supplies in basements.

In the recent high heat + humidity, our VA Health Care System sterile supplies and instruments got wet. Sterile disposable supplies had to be disposed of, and sterile reusable supplies had to be recleaned and sterilized. This was a huge expense, purchasing replacement disposable supplies, and reprocessing reusables.

Humidity is high in basements. Any malfunction... more »

Each year the VA wastes 10's Millions of dollars replacing CPAP/BIPAP supplies that are not worn out or broken. At the VA Maine facility we implemented a new oversight program and we saved $400,000 the first year by only replacing supplies that are worn out or broken rather than routinely. Imagine how much could be saved if all VA Hospitals did this? Medicare Guidelines which we used as a reference allow routine replacement... more »

The US Post Office gives away cardboard boxes, stickers, packing tape, and a whole list of other Priority Mail branded supplies. The Government has to pay for these supplies, but gives them away for free. This seems to me like a huge waste of tax payer money.

Today, there are millions of uses for Hemp.
Legalizing the harvesting of the plant, EVEN FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME would greatly help our economy get OUT OF DEBT.

We could use it for---Fabrics,Biodegradable industrial products,Biomass fuels, Replacement for wood products, paper,Body Care Products, pet food, detergents, art supplies, food products... and many more.
If we also harvested hemp for fuel instead of corn,... more »

The government should not buy supplies for their workers. When you're in elementary school all the way to college and post education you have to buy your own supplies in order to be successful. I believe that asking employees to purchase their own pens, pencils, markers, sticky notes, highlighters, etc. is not too much to ask. I do believe the government should continue to purchase supplies such as printer paper, ink... more »

I’ve noticed that supplies are often stocked and forgotten after its initial necessity. It’s time to clean out the supply rooms; file cabinets and office draws that are no longer in use.

As we go green, removing old file folders, binders, etc… these items can be re-used as well. Save the paper clips.

With the high demand among our public school systems for school supplies, let’s reallocated these items to the public... more »

Every government office worker should receive a six month care package of supplies twice a year that would accommodate the work that was being done. This would include discretionary supplies such as pens, pencils, highlighters, binder clips, paperclips, post its, post it flags, manila folders and notebooks, etc. We did a cost analysis in our office of how much money we spent on discretionary supplies and how much was... more »

I believe that the government spends thousands of dollars each year on excessive office supplies. Generally, there are standard supplies that everyone needs to do their job e.g. staplers, tape dispensers, scissors, ink pens, post it notes etc. There should be a supply room (something similiar to a SPD supply room for medical supplies) where employees can go and get administrative supplies. Have you ever seen an area... more »

I work at various taxpayer locations around town and rarely come in to the office. However, every trip into the office to get supplies qualifies for mileage reimbursement @ .51/mi. Why not allow managers to authorize employees to make small supply purchases using govt credit card and save the extra $10+ in mileage reimbursement per trip to the office?