SAVE Award 2011 Ideas

My idea is to have one security clearance, or background check to cover all, or at least most agencies. For example right now a person can already have a Top-Secret clearance with the Department of Defense, and they would have to start a background investigation all over again if they were to apply with another agency, even if it’s only for a Secret clearance. They would have to fill out the same SF-86, the same eQip... more »

Allowing for Inspectors to Telework will reduce or free up the need for additional office space (and the associated costs). A majority of time spent in the office is for data-entry of inspection reports which can be done from anywhere. Inspectors are equipped with laptops capable of tethering for intra-net access. Allowances for Inspectors to bring home assigned vehicles would have to be made. I have worked on assignments... more »

While great strides have been made recently to get more folks to file online (which substantially reduces labor costs for the government), there's no reason why the remaining paper filings (of which there will always be some) couldn't be digitized by lockbox banks (or the Federal Reserve) servicing the IRS. Since these banks are already processing remittances for deposit, why not have them digitize filings so that they... more »

As the operator of the largest civilian fleet of vehicles in the country, the United States Postal Service (USPS) could save money by gradually substituting its gas-powered vehicles with hybrid (gas/electric) and/or electric-only vehicles. For residential deliveries, for instance, hybrids would run on electricity alone during delivery stops, and quick runs from one residence to another. Some of the benefits from this... more »

Significant numbers of visits to Doctors’ offices are triggered by the need to obtain prescriptions for routinely needed medicines for common or chronic conditions, which administration are available as a common or self knowledge.
Such legislation will eliminate making unnecessary visits to Doctors (and thus reduce cost of health care), encourage personal responsibilities and availability of self-care, and focus Doctors... more »

A key component to the success of an Agile Team is positional authority, and full mandatory cooperation with Agile Team members. Agile Team requests, emails, phone calls, meetings, etc. are given top priority by direction of the appropriate Senior Leadership. Agile Team members are basically acting proxies for the Senior Leadership of the scope/area of concern. Agile Team members may have a primary job/responsibility... more »

A key component to the success of an Agile Team is positional authority, and full mandatory cooperation with Agile Team members. Agile Team requests, emails, phone calls, meetings, etc. are given top priority by direction of the appropriate Senior Leadership. Agile Team members are basically acting proxies for the Senior Leadership of the scope/area of concern. Agile Team members may have a primary job/responsibility... more »

My idea is for the "powers that be" to develop the ability for any monies left in the budget at the end of the year to be applied directly to the National Debt. Meaning that a local office can press a button and the monies go directly to the National Debt, they are not funneled back to parent agencies where the monies will be spent so they don't loose out the following year. Additionally I would like to add that being... more »

Currently, the U.S. (i.e. taxpayer) pays approx. 22% of the budget for the United Nations (U.N.) although they are allowed only one vote as with the other voting members. We should either get out of the U.N. or finance it at the minimum level allowed. Our current contribution is close to .5 billion dollars.

With a projected reduction in force, a projected reduction in work should also be considered. To not kill the already delicate morale of the federal workforce, all processes/work being accomplished should be relooked at to determine which items are essential to complete by the reduced workforce. This might not seem like a cost savings, but your personnel are your most important asset. It is unreasonable to expect workers... more »

The Bureau of Prisons has approximately 183 institutions with approximately 177,000 inmates. We move inmates throughout the Bureau and ship the inmate’s property utilizing United Parcel Service (UPS). The Bureau of Prisons does get a discount on the shipping cost however, the inmates are authorized to ship commissary goods mostly perishables such as soups, rice, candy, etc. The cost to ship these commissary items... more »

Currently Treasury components such as the Mint, BEP, FinCen, IRS and others have separate enforcement and security functions. It would be better create a Treasury Law Enforcement and Security arm to standardize equipment, training and policy; consolidate patrols; and use economy of scale thinking to reduce costs and achieve better efficiency with implementation of security measures.

Eliminate the Forest Service driver/operator licensing program. Training and subsequent documentation should be the responsibility of the supervisor and/or safety managment. Creating examiner programs and licensing is costly, it duplicates state licensing programs (in some areas), and is largely a safety program. So where does the the FS put it? Why, under Engineering and Fleet of course. Also,while we're at it, make... more »

Current policies and proceedures prevent agency from buying locally produced and manufactured products. Specifically, local paper mills can provide agency with paper, envelopes and other items at a much-reduced cost than can be acquired through current GSA methods. Allowing the agency to directly purchase these (and other) goods would not only save money, but decrease time of acquisition, paperwork and staff manhours.... more »

Currently DoD Civilian LQA is much higher than their Military counterparts of equivalent rank. This is due to the requirement to have DoD fall under Department of State regulations. Let the DoD control what overseas civilians get for LQA and not the Department of State. that way the DoD can operate more efficiently and save money. Currently a GS-9 makes more than a Lt Col does for off-base housing. GS-13 and higher make... more »