Browse Ideas with tag 'save money':

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  Government Security Perceptions

  First, every federal employee and government contractor and anyone else who carries a common access card (CAC) should not be required to go through security at airports. Many of us can carry large boxes and drive cars into our government buildings without any search. We could do much more damage in that way than by blowing up an aircraft. So save time and money of TSA staff while speeding the search for real threats. ...more »

  First, every federal employee and government contractor and anyone else who carries a common access card (CAC) should not be required to go through security at airports. Many of us can carry large boxes and drive cars into our government buildings without any search. We could do much more damage in that way than by blowing up an aircraft. So save time and money of TSA staff while speeding the search for real threats. A simple CAC reader at TSA security would allow you to swipe your card and proceed without any searches.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Get rid of $1 bill, just have coins, SAVE BILLIONS, $5.5 of them

  The $1 bill cost more than a dollar to produce. It is time we replace it with coins like they have done in Europe. They last longer and are cheaper to make.

  9 comments for Idea: Get rid of $1 bill, just have coins, SAVE BILLIONS, $5.5 of them

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Use All-Agency Check Before Travel Expenses

  The $5M wasteful spending for "training" in Atlanta was a black eye for government work. It wasn't the first time it happened for one thing and for another, that kind of "training" is totally ineffective. The cost was exposed by an ABC news story, but it SHOULD have gone reported by many others who, in one way or another, had a hand in the flagrant abuse of authority. There must be an all-agency checkpoint. Anything ...more »

  The $5M wasteful spending for "training" in Atlanta was a black eye for government work. It wasn't the first time it happened for one thing and for another, that kind of "training" is totally ineffective. The cost was exposed by an ABC news story, but it SHOULD have gone reported by many others who, in one way or another, had a hand in the flagrant abuse of authority. There must be an all-agency checkpoint.

  Anything over a certain dollar amount must be pre-approved by a board outside the agency. No one should limit actual peer training and collaboration, but spending this much money for powerpoint and a big party is flagrant abuse. If a proposed training event can be done better/faster/cheaper closer to home, or with use of webinars and teleconferencing, then those suggestions must be made. Simple design, let the proposal request go via an email form to GSA or OPM, and let it be approved at that level. The people who let this happen should have been disciplined and Travel for this agency should be severely curtailed. If you missed the story, use your home computer to view:

  http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/party-time-faa-critics-question-million-gathering/story?id=9390933

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Make Telework Mandatory for eligible positions

  1. Saves energy in America.

  2. Saves roads / extends their life

  3. Less energy consumed in office space

  4. Focus for projects

  5. Improved morale

  6. More agile workforce able to work offsite during contingencies

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Treat government resources like they are your own

  Most government offices are kept uncomfortably warm in the winter and overcooled in the summer. And to make matters worse, I regularly find the heat/AC left at these excessive settings overnight and over weekends, in addition to lights, monitors, computers, etc. While we have a nice shredder, some are too lazy (too important?) to sort sensitive vs. not sensitive items they no longer need, or to shred on a regular basis, ...more »

  Most government offices are kept uncomfortably warm in the winter and overcooled in the summer. And to make matters worse, I regularly find the heat/AC left at these excessive settings overnight and over weekends, in addition to lights, monitors, computers, etc. While we have a nice shredder, some are too lazy (too important?) to sort sensitive vs. not sensitive items they no longer need, or to shred on a regular basis, which causes us to hire a costly service and waste a lot of man hours babysitting the service and moving around the mountains of shredding created - many of it not even sensitive information (i.e. empty file folders, envelopes, public or open source information). Supplies such a pens, pencils, paper, disappear at alarming rates and have to be purchased through a specific vendor at inflated prices. Over 24 years of government service I can not count how many of my peers have made fun of me for considering the best price for fuel/service for my government vehicle, using a personally less convenient airport to save 50 - 75% on air fare, and using the same pen for a year (instead of carrying one home by accident almost daily and throwing it away) or reuse a piece of paper that came out of the printer blank, or with one or two marks on it. I could go on, but the point is, I can not believe my coworkers are so wasteful in their own homes and lives. We all pay taxes, so isn't it essentially our own money we are wasting with these practices at the office?

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Stop Wasting and Living Off Pell Grant Money

  Currently, recipients of grants receive money prior to taking classes. This allows students to pay for books, tuition, cars, ipods, electricity, cell phones, or anything. Currently, one can sign up for classes, miss most classes.never attend more than a few classes, obtain an "F" and continue the cycle while living off free money forever.There are cases where students have been going to school for almost 20 years living ...more »

  Currently, recipients of grants receive money prior to taking classes. This allows students to pay for books, tuition, cars, ipods, electricity, cell phones, or anything. Currently, one can sign up for classes, miss most classes.never attend more than a few classes, obtain an "F" and continue the cycle while living off free money forever.There are cases where students have been going to school for almost 20 years living off grants (free money) term after term. They abuse the system instead of graduating and getting a job. Suggest payments come at end of school term and require students to maintain "C" in any and all classes, require students to attend 95% of classes before grant will pay for school expenses. Also, require degree be earned within set time frame and no longer.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Add solar power to military and federal buildings!

  My building in the military had one that powered the HVAC and the hot water. We were always very comfortable and it was not at the expense of taxpayers beyond installation. What made this good was that we were a 24/7 function. We need more of these where it pays to add them and they should be made in America!

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Made in the U.S.A.

  For decades we have focused on free trade. This is not a bad thing but Americans must hear from the top that buying American is a good thing to do. If we buy more then prices go down.

  I looked at the American Living line in JC Penney and it is made in the usual suspects. They charge more and you would think it would be AMERICAN made!

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Investing in America Savings Program

  Reward each U.S. Governmental Agency that does not spend every dollar that was budgeted and appropriated for by allowing them to save the money at the end of the fiscal year. This money could go into a centralized US Government investment account. Recommend rewarding agencies that come in under budget with a recognition program based on the amount of money they saved proportional to their overall budget. Allow Agencies ...more »

  Reward each U.S. Governmental Agency that does not spend every dollar that was budgeted and appropriated for by allowing them to save the money at the end of the fiscal year. This money could go into a centralized US Government investment account. Recommend rewarding agencies that come in under budget with a recognition program based on the amount of money they saved proportional to their overall budget. Allow Agencies to save up their money and use it on a project or resource they really need in the future. Recommend not factoring savings amounts into their future budget either. The money that is saved/generated off of interest could go into paying off the national deficit, U.S. Savings Bonds, Social Security, etc. By rewarding Agencies for saving money it promotes an environment that rewards fiscal mindedness. If all agencies are promoting and participating, little savings and big savings alike will add up quickly. You could title it the "Investing in America Savings Program."

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Allow Full Time Career Employees to Switch to Part Time

  This can be on a temporary basis, and may not necessarily involve a loss of many hours. In fact, just an hour or two each day may help the government save money while giving the employee flexibility.

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  Change default font to Century Gothic for 30% ink savings

  Change all default typeset to Century Gothic, which saves 30% more ink than Arial. This would result in millions of dollars in savings for the government, with a very simple change.

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  Ideas Worth Spreading---- Ted Talks

  Each government employee should spend a few minutes with Ted Talks---Ideas Worth Spreading. http://www.ted.com/ Find some subjects of interest and watch to see what develops in YOU. The presentations are, by definition, concise. Rarely does any speaker go over the 15 minute suggested time. That time element is part of what makes Ted Talks such a great tool. If you can't give your "elevator speech", then go back ...more »

  Each government employee should spend a few minutes with Ted Talks---Ideas Worth Spreading. http://www.ted.com/

  Find some subjects of interest and watch to see what develops in YOU. The presentations are, by definition, concise. Rarely does any speaker

  go over the 15 minute suggested time. That time element is part of what makes Ted Talks such a great tool. If you can't give your "elevator speech", then go back to the drawing board until you can.

  Watch at least three (3) to get a feel for how they are constructed. You will learn that sprightly presentations work. Using humor, personal examples get the listener's attention. You will soon learn, that if we were all thinking like this, we would get alot more done, in our families, in the workplace, in our nation, which is part of our ever expanding World.

  You can listen on your home computer or through your home download of iTunes.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  No more fuel dumping (Millions saved)

  Proposal and justification: 1. PRESENT METHOD – Currently fuel is dumped by KC-135s, KC-10s and other Air Force aircraft due to landing heavy weight or mission changes. These aircraft dump hundreds of thousands of gallons on a yearly basis. 2. PROPOSED METHOD – I can understand dumping fuel due to an emergency, but because of a mission change this is unacceptable. Instead of dumping this fuel in order to be able to ...more »

  Proposal and justification:

  1. PRESENT METHOD – Currently fuel is dumped by KC-135s, KC-10s and other Air Force aircraft due to landing heavy weight or mission changes. These aircraft dump hundreds of thousands of gallons on a yearly basis.

  2. PROPOSED METHOD – I can understand dumping fuel due to an emergency, but because of a mission change this is unacceptable. Instead of dumping this fuel in order to be able to land, change the policy so that a training mission can be accomplished or have other specific missions on standby that can be used in a scenario that would normally require dumping fuel. For example a KC-135 takes off from McConnel AFB and is headed to Mildenhall AFB. 40 minutes into their flight they are told that they are no longer needed at Mildenhall or there is a delay of some sort. Now this KC-135 still has a ton of fuel and is unable to land due to its current weight. I propose that TACC contact the pilot and see how much fuel until they can land. Have TACC ask the pilot and navigator how far they can fly currently. Now have TACC generate a mission for this KC-135 somewhere within this radius given so that this fuel can be put to use versus dumping it into the air.

  3. EXPECTED BENEFITS – Not allowing the dumping of fuel except for in emergency situations will save millions across the DOD. Not to mention the environmental effects it will save.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Territorial Embeddment - Telework expansion

  Where Program delivery tasks are assigned by territory, embed staff in that territory - full time. By embedding staff in assigned territory full time, versus centralized/regional placement, enormous operational savings would be realized. With centralized approach, travel & overhead expenses are significant. Full time placment in territory will reduce travel and overhead costs. As many federal employees are already ...more »

  Where Program delivery tasks are assigned by territory, embed staff in that territory - full time.

  By embedding staff in assigned territory full time, versus centralized/regional placement, enormous operational savings would be realized. With centralized approach, travel & overhead expenses are significant. Full time placment in territory will reduce travel and overhead costs. As many federal employees are already set up for remote functioning, simply use it. By eliminating the need for full time office space, overhead costs can be significantly reduced. No desk space, land phone line, furniture, suppies, etc. would be needed. Working from a location in an assigned territory will eliminate virtually all costs associated with airfare, lodging & perdiem. Program delivery will be enhanced as direct contact with many customers can be virtually immediate.

  This is a no brainer. To date, rejections for such requested arrangements have been met with management reasoning such as "your place is here in this office". It appears that little serious consideration has been afforded the real cost savings, operating expense reductions, and enhanced Program delivery that will most assuredly result in such innovative and progressive arrangements.

  This arrangement will serve staff well on a personal basis as more time is spent at home with friends/family and less time is spent traveling for lengthy periods of time.

  Frankly, the time is overdue for government to evolve into the 21st century. Many steps and measures can be developed and implemented that will significantly reduce government operational and Program delivery costs. Stronger direction from the top needs to be handed down that will effectively require those with authority to "think outside the box". For those government employees that are mature, effective, and reliable, if they were placed full time where the work is, the benefits would be "priceless" to leadership, management, and most importantly, our customers.

  Alternatively, step back and replace more expensive portable equipment with less expensive stationary equipment (i.e. desktop computers versus laptop computers, land lines versus blackberries, etc.). Increase travel budgets to support effective Program delivery.

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  Government Forms of Every Type

  Forms of every kind used by the federal government, should go to a master form design. It is rare to find a government form that is well designed and useful. Forms that can't get it right in just two (2) pages are the culprit. Making duplicate copies is an unnecessary cost over-run at every agency, on a daily basis. Each form used by an agency should be evaluated and re-designed. Invariably, you've got too many wordy ...more »

  Forms of every kind used by the federal government, should go to a master form design. It is rare to find a government form that is well designed and useful. Forms that can't get it right in just two (2) pages are the culprit. Making duplicate copies is an unnecessary cost over-run at every agency, on a daily basis. Each form used by an agency should be evaluated and re-designed. Invariably, you've got too many wordy lines designated for Instructions with not enough line for the input. A high percentage of non-standardized forms go to mulitiple pages trying to say what they want it to say---ineffectively ! "Write for the Web" for these forms. Condense the information to two pages max, give us some room to write what you're asking to be completed, give us some eye-appeal and ease. Copy paper goes flying out of most agencies. Let's analyze what we are copying and where necessary---cut to the chase to save paper.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Reduce waste and redundancy of paperwork from VA presciptions

  All outpatient prescriptions (new, partials, renewals, refills, etc.) are dispensed with Consumer Medication Information (CMI). CMI is printed information about prescription medicine provided by pharmacy to patients and should be given with all NEW prescriptions. This does not include Medication Guides which are required to be dispensed with certain prescription medicines that have serious and significant public health ...more »

  All outpatient prescriptions (new, partials, renewals, refills, etc.) are dispensed with Consumer Medication Information (CMI). CMI is printed information about prescription medicine provided by pharmacy to patients and should be given with all NEW prescriptions. This does not include Medication Guides which are required to be dispensed with certain prescription medicines that have serious and significant public health concerns.

  My recommendation is to dispense CMI ONLY with new prescriptions (not refills, renewals or partials) to reduce cost and decrease identity theft and unnecessary waste.

  Benefits:

  1. Decreased costs:

  For our facility (VHSO-Fayetteville, AR) the annual costs of CMI is:

  i.Toner/Ink – app. $19,651 per year (based on fiscal year 2008)

  ii.Legal size paper – app. $6,322 per year (based on fiscal year 2008)

  = annual cost of app. $25,000 per year

  *Assuming the average prescription has 11 refills, and if no CMI was dispensed, this would equal an annual savings of app. $23,000(Based on average annual cost of $25,000*11/12 = app. $23,000)

  *If 500 facilities* participated nationwide, the average annual savings could be app. $11,500,000! per year (Based on an average savings of app. $23,000 per year)

  2. Decreased risk for patient identity theft

  i. Veterans placing Protected Personal Information (PPI) contained in CMI into non-secure trash receptacles.

  ii. Less opportunity for PPI to be dispensed in wrong package

  3. Increased productivity and patient satisfaction

  i. Less paperwork decreases fill and verification time, which decreases wait time for patients = increased patient satisfaction

  4. Adding voluminous amounts of papers to the information patients already receive may cause them to not read any of the information

  5. It’s GREEN! Less paperwork = positive impact on the environment

  6. Its not required by the FDA!

  i. FDA specifically states that CMI is for “All prescription medicines filled for the FIRST time,” “Provided VOLUNTARILY by pharmacies..,” and is NOT REVIEWED AND/OR APPROVED BY THE FDA. See the ruling on CMI, Medication Guides, and Patient Package Inserts (PPI) on the FDA website at :

  http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/CDER/ReportsBudgets/ucm163786.htm

  *894 VHA medical facilities. This includes healthcare networks, medical centers, outpatient clinics, and community-based outpatient clinics

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Federal "Good Neighbor" Resource Sharing

  When federal agencies have resources that they could, on occasion at the very least, lend or assist a fellow federal agency office nearby; they can and should. However, they actually rarely do because... well... they haven't been directed to do so. Solution: Direct all federal government that if they have resources they can reasonably offer, lend or assist another federal agency in need, do it. Furthermore, no federal ...more »

  When federal agencies have resources that they could, on occasion at the very least, lend or assist a fellow federal agency office nearby; they can and should. However, they actually rarely do because... well... they haven't been directed to do so.

  Solution: Direct all federal government that if they have resources they can reasonably offer, lend or assist another federal agency in need, do it. Furthermore, no federal agency should be charged from or make charges to, another federal agency (USPS excepted). It is essentially a double-indemnity to the taxpayer. I can probably come with 100 examples or scenarios of how this would immediately save money.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Buy e-readers

  Agencies can reduce paperwork costs by using digital paperwork. I have reduced the need to print about 10,000 pages over 6 months through use of a personally purchased e-reader.

  The savings on paper are substantial enough. However, when the cost of ink and printers are factored in, such purchasing decisions become a no brainer.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Eliminate positions that can be automated (timekeeper etc)

  Many positions can be automated. Examples such as the timekeeper or a multiple security guards. Add man traps and other features. If the private sector is doing it to be more efficient so should the govt!

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  Highspeed rail in the Northeast - Maglev from D.C. to NYC

  The high speed rail projects that were proposed were in the wrong states. We need to redirect those funds to a maglev from Washington D.C to New York City. We need to connect our leadership capital with our financial capital. Agencies would be able tl locate up the corridor and have cheaper travel. Since this will take a load off roads then it can be built with government funds and leased to a commercial operator ...more »

  The high speed rail projects that were proposed were in the wrong states. We need to redirect those funds to a maglev from Washington D.C to New York City. We need to connect our leadership capital with our financial capital. Agencies would be able tl locate up the corridor and have cheaper travel. Since this will take a load off roads then it can be built with government funds and leased to a commercial operator to use and maintain and earn a profit. Since the infrastructure is leased the deal must place caps on rate increases - they must be based on increasing cost and not increasing profitability.

  This would help Amtrak not need govt funds and you could get from DC to New York in 1 hour. The existing Accela rail lines in the corridor can be worked with the local commuter rails that are operated by Amtrak so that the additional tracks planned won't need to be added!

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Supply Source - More IMPAC vs GSA and DLA

  I hate to say this but the GSA and DLA prices for items such as tools are criminal. If they cannot offer the best product at the best price then we should ALWAYS be able to change to IMPAC funds and buy from a commercial source such as Sear Craftsman. I priced one DLA tool box that cost $1250 was $217 at Sears. The Sears set was also lifetime warranty and the pieces matched. The DLA set was mix match! Best product, ...more »

  I hate to say this but the GSA and DLA prices for items such as tools are criminal. If they cannot offer the best product at the best price then we should ALWAYS be able to change to IMPAC funds and buy from a commercial source such as Sear Craftsman.

  I priced one DLA tool box that cost $1250 was $217 at Sears.

  The Sears set was also lifetime warranty and the pieces matched. The DLA set was mix match!

  Best product, best price period!

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  Employee Relocation - Employee earns % of costs saved in move

  Allow employees to get percentage of money saved during a relocation. If an employee chooses to move themself (via a rental moving van) and/or if an employee opts to stay with relatives instead of temporary housing at a new location or even if an employee shortens their temporary housing stay, allow them to earn a percentage of the money saved off of the original extimated cost of the move.

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  Get rid of the paperwork

  Scan current stored documents into computers and make standard OPM/Government forms electronic. Eliminate millions, maybe billions in paper waste and storage fees every year. This covers all branches and departments.

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  Make O & M Money 2 years

  Instead of being a single year funding rollover could limit unfunded requirements by finding savings.

  No more Christmas in August and September!

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Supply Care Packages for all Federal Employees to Save Money

  Every government office worker should receive a six month care package of supplies twice a year that would accommodate the work that was being done. This would include discretionary supplies such as pens, pencils, highlighters, binder clips, paperclips, post its, post it flags, manila folders and notebooks, etc. We did a cost analysis in our office of how much money we spent on discretionary supplies and how much was ...more »

  Every government office worker should receive a six month care package of supplies twice a year that would accommodate the work that was being done. This would include discretionary supplies such as pens, pencils, highlighters, binder clips, paperclips, post its, post it flags, manila folders and notebooks, etc. We did a cost analysis in our office of how much money we spent on discretionary supplies and how much was being used on a per person basis. By looking at the numbers and deciding, based on usage, how much supplies should be ordered, we were able to come up with how much of each category should be given to each employee to last them throughout the year. This enabled us to make sure that certain employees weren’t hoarding the supplies, which in the past forced us to order more for others that did not get their share. Monitoring the discretionary supplies and limiting each person’s usage will help us save money. Although we have projected savings for our office, we do not know the exact year end outcome because this is the first year we are trying care packages for the staff.

  A goal across the federal government is to become less paper oriented. However, until the culture is changed to become paperless, people will still have a need for these supplies. When we do become paperless we will show savings in paper of course, but it will also trickle down to the rest of the supply budget as well. In the meantime, creating care packages takes less staff time, as opposed to ordering a few small orders each month, and is more efficient in the long run because it limits supply orders to twice a year. This idea can be easily duplicated in each office throughout the government. It also enables us to create more specific administrative budget requests. Reducing over consumption of supplies also promotes an environmentally sustainable environment. Finally, based off of last year’s numbers and our current year projections, we will save money.

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