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Cost Estimating NewsBrief: March 21, 2025
Agencies Told to Tally Up and Report the Costs of Labor Relations
(FedWeek) Federal agencies have been told to tally up and report to OPM the costs related to contract negotiations and other aspects of labor-management relations, saying that “To date the federal government has not attempted to systematically track the cost to federal collective bargaining negotiations.” A memo on chcoc.gov expands an earlier directive for agencies to report to OPM information on the use of official time—on-the-clock time for employees with union roles to perform certain union-related duties, including bargaining. While agencies have continued to internally track use of such time—whose amounts are themselves negotiable—OPM has not issued a government-wide report since 2019. Read More
Defense Logistics Agency Is Working to Advance AI Adoption
(ExecutiveGov) The Defense Logistics Agency now has over 55 artificial intelligence models in various phases of production, testing and use and is expected to further advance AI adoption. Established in June 2024, the AI Center of Excellence within DLA Information Operations oversees efforts to explore how AI technologies could improve processes. Ruksana Lodi, AI officer at DLA, said her team is developing AI guidance, standardizing processes and prioritizing use cases that support the agency’s strategic goals. Read More
DOD Contracting: Opportunities Exist to Improve Pilot Program for Employee-Owned Businesses
(U.S. Government Accountability Office) DOD established a pilot program to award certain contracts, without competition, to companies organized as “employee stock ownership plans.” ESOPs provide people with direct ownership of the company they work for and other benefits. DOD’s guidance on the pilot didn’t give contracting officers enough information to determine whether companies were eligible for the program. As a result, DOD awarded a contract to an ineligible company. DOD updated its guidance but didn’t provide other details that the contracting officers might need. Read More
No, there’s no ‘kill switch’: Pentagon tries to reassure international F-35 partners
(Breaking Defense) The Pentagon today attempted to reassure its international partners in the F-35 program that there is no “kill switch” on the stealth fighter jet that the US could use to render it ineffective — the latest signal that there are real concerns abroad about American stewardship of the program amid tensions with historical allies. “There is no kill switch,” the Joint Program Office (JPO) for the F-35 program said in a statement. “The program operates under well-established agreements that ensure all F-35 operators have the necessary capabilities to sustain and operate their aircraft effectively. The strength of the F-35 program lies in its global partnership, and we remain committed to providing all users with the full functionality and support they require.” Read More
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