The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

Examiners at the Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) typically have to look at thousands of documents to determine whether an application is valid. Thanks to Federal Drive Host Tom Temin's guest, those examiners now have artificial intelligence tools to work faster and more accurately. For his work, he's a finalist in this year's Service to America Medals program, and the first of the finalist interviews we will be bringing you this year. Talking with Temin is the Director of Emerging Technology and Chief AI Officer at USPTO, Jerry Ma.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Do federal employees make more or less than people with similar jobs in the private sector? It's a question often asked, often answered, and never settled. The latest effort comes from the Congressional Budget Office, which looked at the question using 2022 wage data. It found federal pay and benefits superior for those with high school diplomas or less education. But the private sector paid better for those with doctorates or professional degrees. For an evaluation, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with the staff vice president at the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, John Hatton.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sometimes federal procurements don't go according to the rules. Sometimes its worse, when bribes and kickbacks come into play. That's what the Justice Department's Procurement Collusion Strike Force tries to discover and prosecute. Now the strike force is expanding, with four new members. For details, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with the Dan Glad, the director of the Strike Force.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On today's episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After a couple years of uncertainty, satisfaction among federal employees is beginning to rise at many agencies.

In a preview of the latest Best Places to Work in the Federal Government rankings, out of the top 10 agencies in each of the four categories — large, midsize and small agencies, as well as agency sub-components — prioritizing employee engagement was the common thread, the Partnership for Public Service said.

“At a time when our nation faces both critical challenges and exciting opportunities at home and abroad, an engaged federal workforce is vitally important,” Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, said in a statement. “The top-ranked agencies have excelled at keeping their workforces engaged and motivated and, as a result, they are well positioned to deliver results for the public.”

The preview of the 2023 Best Places to Work rankings, which the Partnership published Thursday morning in collaboration with the Boston Consulting Group, comes a few days ahead of the full rankings’ upcoming release on May 20.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sikorsky Aircraft and the Defense Department have been arguing in court for the past 17 years, over the company's compliance with cost-accounting standards. One reason it has been running so long is the government keeps asserting violations but takes no action. For more on the importance of this case, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Haynes Boone procurement attorney Zach Prince.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If your agency gives grants, you probably know about the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. That's where so-called single audits go. Single audits of spending by non-federal grant or aid recipients are required by law. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) found the whole clearinghouse process, operated by the General Services Administration, has a few problems. Agencies don't have the data they need to do single audits. For the details, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with GAO's Director of Financial Management and Assurance, Jim Dalkin.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last year the Defense Department staged an innovation challenge. It wanted new ideas for talent management. And did it ever get them. It got 200 ideas. Now officials have picked nine finalists. For an update, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with program analyst Beth Stewart and challenge director Dr. Jeannette Haynie.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Many of the companies who currently handle military household goods moves have been vocal in their criticism of DoD’s new contract to overhaul the system. Up until now, they’ve been pressing the department to make changes to the Global Household Goods contract (GHC). Now though, under the auspices of a new coalition called Movers for America, they’re looking to stop its implementation altogether.

Although GHC has been in the works for years — the final solicitation was issued in 2019 — implementation is only now beginning, because of a series of bid protests and technical challenges. HomeSafe, the eventual winner of the up-to-$17.9 billion contract, only began moving shipments via its subcontractors last month.

Tim Helenthal, the CEO of National Van Lines and a member of the new Movers for America group, said DoD’s established moving companies have been working for months with U.S. Transportation Command to resolve their concerns, but without any real success.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.