FederalDaily - March 28, 2006

Top Agencies for Disabled Workers

The FBI, the Social Security Administration and the Defense Logistics Agency topped the list of best federal agency employers for disabled employees in a recent survey compiled by Equal Opportunities Publications (EOP). EOP has several publications that promote affirmative action and diversity in the public and private sector. EOP surveyed readers of two its publications, CAREERS and disABLED, to find out which agencies the readers thought were the most desirable employers for disabled feds. Rounding out the top five are the Food and Drug Administration and the CIA. To view the top-20 list or find more information on EOP and its publications, go to www.eop.com/cdtop50.html.

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Information Security Weaknesses Still Plague IRS

The IRS needs to address numerous weaknesses in information security to prevent misuse of sensitive data, according to a March 2006 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. The IRS did address 41 out of 81 deficiencies previously identified by GAO, but GAO’s latest audit found new vulnerabilities in addition the remaining 40 issues. The IRS, the report said, does not have effective:

• electronic access controls to manage network accounts or file permissions; or
• security controls to manage computer resources and prevent unauthorized software changes.

GAO concluded, and the IRS management concurred, that the IRS needs an agency-wide information security program to address vulnerabilities. The GAO report is available at www.gao.gov/highlights/d06328high.pdf.

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FEHBP Guidelines for Natural Disasters

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) proposed guidelines earlier this month for Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) enrollees whose care providers are put out of service by natural disasters. To better respond to disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, in the event that an enrollee’s provider is permanently or temporarily incapacitated by a natural disaster, the individual will have 60 days to choose another health care plan. If no change is made after 60 days, the individual would be automatically placed under Blue Cross Blue Shield. OPM would be responsible for determining whether to invoke the provision. Those interested can provide comments on the proposed regulations through May 8. To read the regulations or find out how to comment on the proposal, see the March 7 issue of the Federal Register.

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Group Wants Walter Reed Contract Implemented

The Professional Services Council (PSC) issued a March 23 letter to Army Secretary Francis Harvey calling for the implementation of a support services contract for Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Members of Congress have contested the outsourcing move, suggesting Office of Management and Budget (OMB) A-76 regulations had not been adhered to in the awarding of the contract. PSC argued that the award followed OMB A-76 requirements, and asked Harvey to “reject calls for further, unnecessary delays.” The council pointed out that, originally, the work had been awarded in-house. However, Army auditors found that the initial decision contained several errors, and the private offer was actually the best offer, PSC said.

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