As the federal government looks at the next few years, the view is one of a third of its workforce moving into retirement. According to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), less than 6% of the workforce are under the age of 30. There’s a whole new generation of talent out there – Hello Gen Z! – that we need to be moving into public service. While many make it through the arduous hiring process and stick out their years of service, it’s clear that hiring for the federal government needs to adjust to attract the movers and shakers in the world who can meet emerging and changing needs for the country. According to the Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit in D.C. that advocates for better government, federal employees demonstrate more commitment than those in the private sector. Dedication and commitment are important components in leading for tomorrow’s challenges, but it will take more innovation, fresh ideas, and a faster pace to move forward in the aftermath from a pandemic year.
Layoffs Impacting the Cleared Industry
| IBM | While the airlines are relieved with the stimulus bill that stopped imminent layoffs, other industries like education are not quite so fortunate. Not even the tech industry is immune from cost cutting measures still. For some organizations, their U.S. operations can function on the profit side, but globally, adjustments need to be made. Such is the case for IBM’s Luxembourg office that is sending out layoff notices to 38 of its 313 employees. Luxembourg unions are pushing back against IBM sending out layoffs in an effort to cut costs and raise profits. |
|---|
President Biden’s stimulus bill not only puts money in some people’s bank accounts, it has help stave off layoffs and furloughs that appeared to be imminent. In response to a letter from INSA and other industry leaders, the recent bill also extends section 3610 of the CARES Act.
Section 3610 “basically authorizes programs across the government, civilian agencies, the intelligence community and the Defense Department to reimburse contractors for costs they incur, keeping skilled personnel and key workers on the payroll when they can either access the facility due to some restrictions, Covid-19, etc, or do the work remotely,” said David Berteau, president and CEO of the Professional Services Council.
Hiring impacting the Cleared Industry
| SAFE Boats International | After a $100 million contract from the U.S. Navy, SAFE Boats International is ready to reopen its Port of Tacoma manufacturing operation, adding 75 new maritime jobs. SAFE Boats will build 16 boats to the U.S. Navy in order for them to sell to the government of Ukraine.
“Ukraine will utilize the vessels to better defend its territorial waters and protect other maritime interests,” said the Defense Security Cooperation Agency in a news release. |
|---|
Cleared Employer at Work: Amazon
Opportunity to Watch
Good news for cybersecurity contractors. The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)’s new director – Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Skinner is advocating for the Pentagon’s IT support agency plans to remain outsourced. Efficiency and cost savings are the primary reasons behind the decision.
“I’m a big proponent of commercial IT as a service,” Skinner said at the AFCEA Rocky Mountain Cyberspace Symposium. “We have to be careful as we kind of move forward with this. … I think we really need to get after this in a more holistic look and a faster pace.”
With commercial IT services already available, or contractors with cybersecurity pipelines already in place, it makes more sense for the DoD to simply contract out what’s already being developed better somewhere else. DISA continues this strategy with its $202 million contract award to Perspecta last week to continue managing the content-related services used by all of the military services, combatant commands, and DoD agencies.
“The global reach of the [Department of Defense] means it must have the most secure, reliable and rapid capability for delivering content anywhere. This award is a testament to our strong performance on the GCDS I program,” said Jeff Bohling, senior vice president and general manager of Perspecta’s defense group, in a statement.
“Why would the government develop something when there is something that’s already out there from a commercial standpoint? Or why would we take something that’s commercial and … bastardize it to the point of it is a one-off or it’s very unique, just for the government?,” Skinner said. “Very few times do I think that we should be we should be doing that.”
