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DHHS

Ideas contributed by Community Member

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  Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »

  Allow Travelers to Purchase Flight Tickets on Thier Own

  Many many thousands of dollars on my remote campus alone could be saved per year if travelers were allowed to purchase their own airfare and be reimbursed after travel by presenting a receipt for the cost. Tickets normally may be purchased privately for at least half of the cost of the least expensive available govt. ticket. Under current travel regs, we must purchase fully refundable higher fare tickets, unless a ...more »

  Many many thousands of dollars on my remote campus alone could be saved per year if travelers were allowed to purchase their own airfare and be reimbursed after travel by presenting a receipt for the cost. Tickets normally may be purchased privately for at least half of the cost of the least expensive available govt. ticket. Under current travel regs, we must purchase fully refundable higher fare tickets, unless a nonrefundable fare is AT LEAST 40% cost savings over the full fare price. If the savings is 40% or more, the tickets must be purchased within 24 hrs or the reservation is canceled. In some cases, as in the situation of a continuing resolution, it is difficult and sometimes impossible to get a lower fare ticket.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  180 votes

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  Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »

  Reduce the number of contract positions in federal agencies

  More and more positions are being filled with contract employees in order for agencies to be able to show a reduction in the number of government hires. Unfortunately, the cost to the tax payer for contract employees is, in most cases, significantly higher than for a government employee in the same position. Contract fees are exorbitantly high. I have seen fees upwards of 60% in my agency...i.e., for a contract employee ...more »

  More and more positions are being filled with contract employees in order for agencies to be able to show a reduction in the number of government hires. Unfortunately, the cost to the tax payer for contract employees is, in most cases, significantly higher than for a government employee in the same position. Contract fees are exorbitantly high. I have seen fees upwards of 60% in my agency...i.e., for a contract employee being paid a salary of $50,000, the additional fees run around $30,000

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  10 comments for Idea: Reduce the number of contract positions in federal agencies

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

• I agree

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  18 votes

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  Increasing Trade, Exports, and Overall Competitiveness »

  Reduce the number of contract positions in federal agencies

  More and more positions are being filled with contract employees in order for agencies to be able to show a reduction in the number of government hires. Unfortunately, the cost to the tax payer for contract employees is, in most cases, significantly higher than for a government employee in the same position. Contract fees are exorbitantly high. I have seen fees upwards of 60% in my agency...i.e., for a contract employee ...more »

  More and more positions are being filled with contract employees in order for agencies to be able to show a reduction in the number of government hires. Unfortunately, the cost to the tax payer for contract employees is, in most cases, significantly higher than for a government employee in the same position. Contract fees are exorbitantly high. I have seen fees upwards of 60% in my agency...i.e., for a contract employee being paid a salary of $50,000, the additional fees run around $30,000

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

• I agree

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  13 votes

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  Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »

  Stop the out-of-control creation and growth of multiple layers i

  New job positions and new “teams” are constantly being created in administration, and are usually filled by promoting current admin staff. The justification is that these new positions and “teams” are needed in order to provide more efficient and higher quality service. Our experience has been that the level of service, efficiency and common sense all decline with the addition of each layer in the review/approval process ...more »

  New job positions and new “teams” are constantly being created in administration, and are usually filled by promoting current admin staff. The justification is that these new positions and “teams” are needed in order to provide more efficient and higher quality service. Our experience has been that the level of service, efficiency and common sense all decline with the addition of each layer in the review/approval process for personnel, travel, purchasing, and other actions. With each added team or “specialist” comes more micromanaging, more time required for each action because of more opinions as to interpretation of regulations and requirements. Seven or so years ago, our personnel and travel packages for the most part were submitted through our AO and, if more approval was required, on to the next person for final approval. Now, our actions are fine-tooth-combed by Admin Tech, then AO, then on to at least one (but usually many more) ‘team’ who each go over it again and require their own changes/additions based on personal interpretation of guidance more often than not. The addition of these layers has also created an atmosphere of folks feeling defensive and protective of their job duties....because the positions were created unnecessarily and the duties overlap with other positions, which causes a good deal of stepping on toes, duplication of effort, and frustration.

  Removing the unnecessary layers, returning to a simpler process, encouraging the use of common sense, I believe can save both money and time.

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  Add your comment for Idea: Stop the out-of-control creation and growth of multiple layers i

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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