Browse Ideas with tag 'it':

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  Stop Double Pay to Microsoft

  We buy computers from Dell. Each computer comes with a license from Microsoft. (Sticker with license key) We then buy an Enterprise license to install Windows (any version) on that computer. Dell sells computers without Windows. We can buy our computers without Microsoft licenses, and then install our Enterprise software. (Volume Licensing) We never use the preinstalled version, and we never use the license key we pay ...more »

  We buy computers from Dell. Each computer comes with a license from Microsoft. (Sticker with license key) We then buy an Enterprise license to install Windows (any version) on that computer. Dell sells computers without Windows. We can buy our computers without Microsoft licenses, and then install our Enterprise software. (Volume Licensing)

  We never use the preinstalled version, and we never use the license key we pay for that comes with the computer. Currently, Microsoft gets payment for two copies of Windows for every computer we purchase.

  We can save millions across the government.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Add back the disagree button!

  Add back the disagree button!

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Increasing Trade, Exports, and Overall Competitiveness »

  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!

  10 comments for Idea: Add solar power to military and federal buildings!

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Wind Turbine and Solar Panels - Green Energy for Feds Buildings

  Wind turbine and solar power plant for Government offices owns by Government agencies and / or GSA and contracted out to Government agencies. This can also be applied to Military and other general buildings. The implementation of Solar Panels and or Wind Turbine could be of benefits to the organization, the installation would be an example of future enterprise or local business to the area, military, and other federal ...more »

  Wind turbine and solar power plant for Government offices owns by Government agencies and / or GSA and contracted out to Government agencies. This can also be applied to Military and other general buildings.

  The implementation of Solar Panels and or Wind Turbine could be of benefits to the organization, the installation would be an example of future enterprise or local business to the area, military, and other federal buildings.

  The Gov office could set the example by assign a pilot program especially to a NEW CONTRUCTION offices and or business. This pilot can be set and studies can be used to compare conventional usage of energy versus new Wind Turbine and / or Solar Panel.

  I have seemed the Corp of Engineer along with the local agency organization conducting and planning 2 or 3 years ago having the implementation of outdated R22 refrigerant (this Freon is being banded by the EPA effective 2008) versus Eco-Friendly R410a.

  Additionally:

  Military building can benefit from this in the long run instead of warhead expenses; by diverting some of the tomahawk and other missiles strategy cost to this Solar and Wind Turbine energy. It’ll pay back.

  See other ideas.

  http://governmentreform.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Control-AC---Heating-and-1-hour-turn-off-for-SAVING-ENERGY-/123166-13060

  http://governmentreform.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Eliminate-Government-Vehicle-for-permanent-Domicile-to-Duty/122824-13060

  http://governmentreform.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Equipment-CONSOLIDATION-and-ReUTILIZATION/123337-13060

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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

  14 comments for Idea: Make Telework Mandatory for eligible positions

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Replace Fax Machines with Internet Fax Service

  Traditional fax machines are extremely wasteful. However, many employees across the government need to send and receive faxes for a variety of reasons. We should replace all fax machines with internet fax services, which provide fax-to-email and email-to-fax capabilities. That means you can receive any fax as an email (comes in just like a scanned document), or send any email or scanned document to a traditional fax machine. ...more »

  Traditional fax machines are extremely wasteful. However, many employees across the government need to send and receive faxes for a variety of reasons. We should replace all fax machines with internet fax services, which provide fax-to-email and email-to-fax capabilities. That means you can receive any fax as an email (comes in just like a scanned document), or send any email or scanned document to a traditional fax machine.

  Some fax machines that receive faxes from the public are---quite literally---printing constantly, 24/7, and those ones should be the highest priority for replacement. But there's really no reason for anyone to need to use a traditional fax machine if they have access to a scanner and an internet fax service.

  Replacing all fax machines in this way would save countless volumes of paper and ink, reduce noise, improve energy efficiency, improve responsiveness; reduce hard copy circulation, and save desk/tabletop and filing cabinet space. Add in OCR (text recognition) software, and you could make any fax instantly searchable.

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  7 comments for Idea: Replace Fax Machines with Internet Fax Service

  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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  Keep this website open year round

  Keep this website open and collect ideas routinely.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Monitors - Extend life for replacements - Saves 1 Billion USD!

  Intro: Every federal employee loves when the IT guys says " you are getting a new computer" - which in many agencies means a laptop. This happens every three years and it is time. Three years of use at 40 hours a week and newer programs on dated technology are a problem - but why the new monitor? I have seen the property book and what they cost and been involved in "excessing" the old ones that all work fine. Do ...more »

  Intro: Every federal employee loves when the IT guys says " you are getting a new computer" - which in many agencies means a laptop. This happens every three years and it is time. Three years of use at 40 hours a week and newer programs on dated technology are a problem - but why the new monitor? I have seen the property book and what they cost and been involved in "excessing" the old ones that all work fine. Do you replace yours at home every three years?

  My Suggestion: Change the lifecycle from 3 to five years for flat screen monitors. From years 0 to 3 they can be supported under the help desk agreements or warranties and from 3 to 5 years if they have a problem they are replaced.

  2.15 million Federal works x $175 per monitor (I am low balling here) = $376,250,000 every three years or $125,416,667 per year. If it was 5 years it would be $75,250,000 per year and a savings of $50,166,667 per year! Over 20 years the savings is $1,003,333,340 - that is over a BILLION dollars for such a simple change.

  Impact: None. All federal employees still have a monitor. No loss in services!

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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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.

  6 comments for Idea: Change default font to Century Gothic for 30% ink savings

  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!

  7 comments for Idea: Made in the U.S.A.

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  A Trillion Dollar waste - WELFARE,section8 ,low income housing

  http://www.hud.gov/complaints/fraud_waste.cfm -section 8 and low income housing encourages dependency and complacent behavior. Why work when you can get a house for practically free and keep collecting entitlements. ILLLEGAL squatting and unauthrized people live with a legal tenet often and this is a criminal offense since changes in family size and income are required to be reported. the section 8 system and low income ...more »

  http://www.hud.gov/complaints/fraud_waste.cfm -section 8 and low income housing encourages dependency and complacent behavior. Why work when you can get a house for practically free and keep collecting entitlements. ILLLEGAL squatting and unauthrized people live with a legal tenet often and this is a criminal offense since changes in family size and income are required to be reported. the section 8 system and low income housing system is a complete failure which has drained the US economy of trillions of dollars and maintained tenets in social and financial bondage. there is no incentive to leave section 8 or low income housing. why work or attend college when you can get housing for free or low cost. This encouranges drug abuse and out of wedlock births and tenet abuse by housing squatters and unauthorized people living in the units. section 8 and low income housing also reduce local taxpayers home values and create blighted neighborhoods with loud music and cars with dark windows and dirty messy yards often with dirt as a yard.. SECTION 8 and LOW INCOME HOUSING TENETS NEED TIME LIMITS of 1 to 3 years then they must be evicted from the units since they are living on free enititlements and have no incentive to Raise themselves out of the free benefits. WAKE UP AMERICA! WE ARE TRILLIONS IN DEBT and giving away FREE BENEFITS . remember that all secion 8 and low income housing authoritys are TAX FREE and you pay the costs of educating the people and their rents are susidized and food and insurance are subsidized and paid for. its like the midlle and upper class is paying triple to live, we all have to pay for everyone else.. its not fair..http://www.hud.gov/complaints/fraud_waste.cfm

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Paperless CFC Contributions

  Make it mandatory that all pay systems (DFAS, NFC) offer the ability to donate to the CFC campaign through Employee Express, Employee Personal Page, etc. This would save money and hours of volunteer and recordkeeping time -- allowing us keep costs down in this worthwhile, collaborative annual effort. Make it easier to contribute and perhaps more federal workers would participate!

  2 comments for Idea: Paperless CFC Contributions

  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!

  1 comment for Idea: Eliminate positions that can be automated (timekeeper etc)

  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.

  2 comments for Idea: Buy e-readers

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Eliminate duplicate systems

  Our agency is finally going to a modern accounting system, yet they still plan to use a system to do financial reporting even though the new one can do the same thing. The old reporting system never worked correctly and was so bad we couldn't use it to close out the fiscal year. Yet they still want to keep it as it was a pet project of one of the senior managers. They could get rid of the purchasing system also as ...more »

  Our agency is finally going to a modern accounting system, yet they still plan to use a system to do financial reporting even though the new one can do the same thing.

  The old reporting system never worked correctly and was so bad we couldn't use it to close out the fiscal year.

  Yet they still want to keep it as it was a pet project of one of the senior managers.

  They could get rid of the purchasing system also as the new system has that too, but no one wants to change.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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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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  Active Duty retirement at 20 year no matter your age?

  Currently a 20 year military vet that joined at 18 and retires at 38 gets a retirement immediately. I am military so I understand this isn't popular but that means if they live the life expectancy they get this for 40+ years!

  This is not true for the reserves so the system needs to be more balanced.

  11 comments for Idea: Active Duty retirement at 20 year no matter your age?

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Stop Sending Emails Regarding the Email Being Down

  C'mon IT folks. We know your thinking is limited, but if the Email system is down temporarily, or if the internet is down temporarily, don't even bother to write an email telling us, because we aren't going to get it until after the problem is fixed. Thank you.

  3 comments for Idea: Stop Sending Emails Regarding the Email Being Down

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Consolidate IT Services for Massive Savings $$

  There are people that collect data for whatever reason and there are people that store and analyze data. In between, there could be numerous "nodes" or "servers". Anywhere there is a "server", that "server" needs to be managed and it is very costly. Usually a GS-12 or 13 Information Technology (IT) Specialist is required. The problem is, most of these servers are truly unneccessary! With today's wideband communications ...more »

  There are people that collect data for whatever reason and there are people that store and analyze data. In between, there could be numerous "nodes" or "servers". Anywhere there is a "server", that "server" needs to be managed and it is very costly. Usually a GS-12 or 13 Information Technology (IT) Specialist is required. The problem is, most of these servers are truly unneccessary! With today's wideband communications and massive storage capabilities of main servers; all the little servers in between that may have at one time been legitimate "nodes" or "tokens" in Wide Area Networks (WANs) are probably all waste at this point. We need to gut the IT bureaucracy, the data empires, the "web farms" and consolidate Information Technology services.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Drill for More Oil! Keep gas prices from going back to $5/gal

  Drill for oil here in the US!

  9 comments for Idea: Drill for More Oil! Keep gas prices from going back to $5/gal

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Stop printing T-n-A and other doc-file them online.

  Instead of printing any Time and Attendance (TnA) document, some time even 3 sheets time 3 or 4 times (for distribution), adding any SF71 to it.... Do them electronically, store them and process them online. Some organization has and can process them via the mainframe financial institution or online secure services. There is no need to print them out, they all can be processed, verified and certified ELECTRONICALLY; ...more »

  Instead of printing any Time and Attendance (TnA) document, some time even 3 sheets time 3 or 4 times (for distribution), adding any SF71 to it.... Do them electronically, store them and process them online.

  Some organization has and can process them via the mainframe financial institution or online secure services.

  There is no need to print them out, they all can be processed, verified and certified ELECTRONICALLY; here is the amount an employee can print every 2 weeks:

  1- One copy for the employee,

  2- Make another copy for the supervisor

  3- And then another for the Admin or budget person to verify the entries.

  4- If there is one error the cycle starts again, and you end up 2 or 3 time the initial amout printed originally.

  ONE PERSON could generate 12 sheets or more just for each pay period (this assuming there is no mistake and the forms need to be printed again).... you can do the numbers, if you have 1000's employees.

  Save more,,,,do less waste... Lets go paperless….

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  KEEP YOUR COMPUTER

  I'd say the vast majority of federal employees use their computers for email and MS applications such as Word or Excel. Extend the life cycle of computer replacements from 3 years to 4 or 5 years. My home computer is 7 years old and still works fine. One arguement I get from our IT people is that the warranties run out after 3 years. So what? If it still works then still use it, if it doesn't then replace it. ...more »

  I'd say the vast majority of federal employees use their computers for email and MS applications such as Word or Excel.

  Extend the life cycle of computer replacements from 3 years to 4 or 5 years. My home computer is 7 years old and still works fine.

  One arguement I get from our IT people is that the warranties run out after 3 years. So what? If it still works then still use it, if it doesn't then replace it.

  Just a thought.

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  9 comments for Idea: KEEP YOUR COMPUTER

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  20 votes

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  Tourism - Market the U.S. overseas as a great place to visit

  The dollar is low and now is the best time to lure Europeans, Middle easterners, and Asians to America for their vacations.

  I have not seen much of this but it would help the U.S. Economy.

  2 comments for Idea: Tourism - Market the U.S. overseas as a great place to visit

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Bring back in-house IT

  Some Army agencies went away with in-house IT department and replaced them with contractors. The problem with that is computer equipment and other electronics are already costing government agencies more money than what a private buyer would pay, on top of that, we have to pay more money for the IT to service the equipment. For example, a personal printer would cost $300, we pay $450 + $400 for it to be serviced. We even ...more »

  Some Army agencies went away with in-house IT department and replaced them with contractors. The problem with that is computer equipment and other electronics are already costing government agencies more money than what a private buyer would pay, on top of that, we have to pay more money for the IT to service the equipment. For example, a personal printer would cost $300, we pay $450 + $400 for it to be serviced. We even pay more money for monitors and it's not like monitors can be upgraded or fixed. We are wasting ridiculous amounts of money and not getting the service we used to get. This is also a problem in our field offices to which the contractors travel seldom and issues just pile up. These contractors don't even have a supervisor on site. In all, we need to eliminate the middleman and bring the in-house IT groups back.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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