FederalDaily - June 19, 2006

NIH Scientist Takes the Fifth

A leading Alzheimer’s disease researcher at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) refused to testify June 14 before a House subcommittee investigating his conduct. Dr. Trey Sunderland allegedly shipped tubes of spinal fluid, human tissue samples and other NIH property to drug company Pfizer. He subsequently accepted more than $600,000 in fees for consulting on the samples as well as outside speaking engagements. “What we have learned from this investigation to date is that NIH lacks adequate controls for human tissue samples, human subject protection, and the scientific conduct of many of its senior employees,” said Rep. John D. Dingell, D-Mich., who sits on the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. The Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services have also started probes, but so far Sunderland has met no disciplinary action.

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Contracting Out Federal Jobs Just Got Harder

A provision of a recently-passed House appropriations bill contains a key demand made in recent years by federal workers—that there must be proof that keeping work within the government (performed by government employees) would be comparatively costly before contracting that work out to private industry. The National Treasury Employees Union won the inclusion of the provision, which calls for Most Efficient Organization (MEO) teams of government workers to compete against contracting firms. Private firms would have to save at least 10 percent over the feds to win the job competition, with a $10 million dollar minimum savings. The bill also would prohibit the direct conversion of more than nine jobs to the private sector.

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Funding Approved for 6,000 National Guard, Other Improvements At Border

Congress passed an emergency supplemental that will provide $1.9 billion aimed at shoring up border security efforts by the Department of Homeland Security, state National Guard units deployed to the border and state and local agencies assisting them. The law will pay for 1,000 new Border Patrol Agents, 4,000 detention beds, more immigration judges and attorneys, as well as $708 million to reimburse states for up to 6,000 National Guard currently being sent to the border with Mexico. “This important legislation realizes President Bush’s commitment to the vital work of the Department, including hurricane relief and border protection,” DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff said.

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DoD Wins EEOC Award

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) presented the agency's second annual "Freedom to Compete Award" on June 14 to seven employers from the private and public sectors for practices that promote access and inclusion. The awards are part of the Freedom to Compete Initiative. The central theme of the initiative is that every individual deserves the opportunity to compete and advance as far as his/her talent and ability allow without regard to discriminatory barriers. Of the seven winners, one was a federal agency: the Department of Defense (DoD). DoD won for its "Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program" (CAP), which makes assistive technology and services available at no cost to DoD employees and other federal agencies. Since its inception, CAP has filled more than 50,000 requests for accommodations.

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