FederalDaily.com > Security Clearance Backlog Is Costly

FederalDaily - August 23, 2005

Security Clearance Backlog Is Costly

The Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) Director of Defense Capabilities and Management, Derek B. Stewart, last week submitted follow-up information to his testimony at a June Congressional hearing on problems with the federal security clearance process. Steward said GAO is unaware of any progress the Department of Defense (DoD) has made toward implementing GAO’s 2004 recommendation to develop and implement a solid plan to eliminate the clearance backlog and reduce the delays in conducting investigations and determining eligibility for security clearances. Stewart also said although GAO does not have a current estimate of the costs of the lengthy clearance process, a 1981 GAO report estimated that the backlog could cost nearly $1 billion per year in lost productivity, and that has likely increased.

Military Retirees Can Elect Survivor Benefits

The Department of Defense announced on August 19 that military retirees who opted out of some or all of their Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) coverage will have another opportunity to elect coverage during a one-year open enrollment period from Oct. 1, 2005, through Sept. 30, 2006. Upon a retiree’s death, the SBP provides an annuity of up to 55 percent of the military retired pay. Current non-participants will be able to elect any coverage they could have elected previously. But those who took SBP coverage and later elected to terminate it are not eligible to make an open enrollment election. Open enrollment elections require a lump sum buy-in premium (which can be paid over two years) as well as future monthly premiums. The lump sum equates to all back premiums, plus interest, from the date of original eligibility. To sign up, fill out the form at: www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/eforms/dd2656-9.pdf.

OSHRC Consultant Advises Cuts

A consultant recently completed the first phase of a study of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC), an independent government agency. The study was performed by human resources consultant, Connie Harshaw. Her recommendations included:

outsourcing the commercial portion of the information technology support function;

making adjustments to titles, series, grades and position descriptions in the Office of Administration;

strengthening the link to pay-for-performance for all GS-1 through GS-15 level employees; and

eliminating one position in the Office of Administration.

The OSHRC, which functions as an administrative court, was created to decide contests of citations or penalties resulting from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspections of American work places.

Race-Neutral Procurement Needs Improvements

The United States Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR), in an examination of federal agency procurement practices, found that the government “fails to seriously consider race-neutral alternatives,” as required. The USCCR examined seven agencies’ procurement programs at: the Departments of Defense, Transportation, Education, Energy, Housing and Urban Development and State, and the Small Business Administration. “Federal agencies are disregarding their constitutional obligation to seriously consider race-neutral alternatives,” said Gerald A. Reynolds, USCCR chairman. A new USCCR report found that federal law does not specify protections for contractors who are the victims of discrimination, nor does any agency possess enforcement authority against violations. The report asks Congress to enact legislation expressly prohibiting race discrimination in federal contracting and establishing effective enforcement procedures. To access the full report, go to www.usccr.gov/pubs/pubsndx.htm.