Save Award 2010 Ideas

Establish a program to allow federal empolyees (and potential employees) to self initiate security clearence investigations at their own expense. Price the cost of the service at a level that will cover variable costs as well as offset some or all of the fixed costs of the background investigation process.

Allow agenices to reimburse employees for these costs in the same way they assist with paying off student loans.... more »

Security has run amok. It's important, but so is productivity. Need to better gauge risk before implementing changes that affect ability to get work done rather than automatically implementing every precaution regardless of risk level vs. impact on the organization. Savings would be in reduced need to troubleshoot and adapt existing applications in a constantly-changing security environment as well as increased productivity.... more »

I don't believe a reasonable risk analysis is being performed on flying safety. The extreme measures we take to insure airline travelers are safe from terrorist is not in line with the measures taken to protect other travel demographics. Someone could easily get on a bus and endanger travelers. In the past the added risk of a terrorist taking control of an airline and turning it into a weapon should easily have been... more »

My suggestion is to utilize one information classification system. Currently, all Departments in the Federal Government utilize a different system to classify information. The federal government could save millions of dollars utilizing one system of classification, including software. The system is already in place the struggles are getting the different departments to utilize one system. All classification software for... more »

This idea -- Security Tenure -- applies to the government-wide personnel security clearance arena, particularly for Top Secret and Q clearances requiring a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI). The government wastes far too much money on five-year SSBI updates, and also wastes money through lack of effective security clearance reciprocity among agencies.

I recommend that any federal employee or contractor... more »

Contract guards should be federalized under FPS or similar agency. It will streamline communications and authority, ensure training and procedures are enforced, and serve both parties in the process.

Why is security sacrificed in lieu of efficiency when it comes to Customer demographic verification over the telephone.

As long as I have been in medical/legal arena, this type of customer identification, verification (and especially changing of that information) was only done in writing. However, somewhere along the way in our nation we have sacrificed a customer's security for the sake of convenience and efficiency.... more »

At USDA/NASS we use FedEx all the time for packages and envelopes, especially for 'priority' deliveries. It’s no secret that the USPS is suffering. Instead of 'outsourcing' shipping AND bailing out the USPS why not keep all mail originating from federal offices in the federal system and use the USPS? The USPS offers the exact same services as FedEX and since it is in the federal system, in theory, our federally protected... more »

Centralize department or agency to manage all US federal government security clearances and investigations to include Sensitive Compartmented Information. This agency must be the single controlling authority to administer and manage the entire security clearance investigation process. Currently individual agencies own and perform their own security clearance investigations, resulting in a plethora of forms, different... more »

Discontinue security programs which provide no actual security, such as LincPass. Within the USDA alone, this multi-million dollar project consumes large amounts of funds, yet has never been made use of. Additionally, the TSA reports that DHS has stated it is no longer considered proof of identity. Why waste money on the required background checks security clearance reviews, and electronic finger printing if it is considered... more »

Discontinue security programs which provide no actual security, such as LincPass. Within the USDA alone, this multi-million dollar project consumes large amounts of funds, yet has never been made use of. Additionally, the TSA reports that DHS has stated it is no longer considered proof of identity. Why waste money on the required background checks security clearance reviews, and electronic finger printing if it is considered... more »

Discontinue security programs which provide no actual security, such as LincPass. Within the USDA alone, this multi-million dollar project consumes large amounts of funds, yet has never been made use of. Additionally, the TSA reports that DHS has stated it is no longer considered proof of identity. Why waste money on the required background checks security clearance reviews, and electronic finger printing if it is considered... more »

Discontinue security programs which provide no actual security, such as LincPass. Within the USDA alone, this multi-million dollar project consumes large amounts of funds, yet has never been made use of. Additionally, the TSA reports that DHS has stated it is no longer considered proof of identity. Why waste money on the required background checks security clearance reviews, and electronic finger printing if it is considered... more »

There are a number of programs spread throughout the HHS Office of the Secretary (OS) all designed to ensure the resiliency, safety, and security of OS personnel, programs, and resources. To name a few, some are:
• Internal Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) program (OSSI)
• Occupant Evacuation Program (OEP) (ASA)
• Continuity of Operations (COOP) program (ASPR)
• Continuity of Government (COG) program (ASPR)... more »

Doing business with inter-office IT groups like security, telecommunications, operations, etc. should be similar to working with outside customers/vendors. Work tickets/contracts should be completed within a timely manner and communication should be performed to let the customer know the status. Currently, we waste valuable time ($) waiting on other work groups to finish tasks because there is nothing pusing them to... more »