Wednesday, June 13. 2007

DOI Cancels A-76; Rolla and Denver to Remain Open as NGTOC Sites

Official word from Karen Siderelis was delivered to USGS employees today in the memorandum below. A second memo from Robert Doyle, Deputy Director follows.

The plan is to use the two remaining USGS sites, Rolla and Denver, as Operations Centers and to use lessons learned in the now cancelled A-76, to reach goals. It appears both federal employees and private contractors will be invovled in "doing the work." The new organization should be in place by Q1 2008 calendar year.

No word on the "why" at this point, but I suspect the handwriting (written in large part by Rep. Jo Ann Emerson) was on the wall that failure was imminent. I'm not sure this is a perfect solution, but I offer contratulations to those who've fought to keep their vision of USGS alive and out on the landscape.

Other coverage:
AP
Rolla Daily News
USGS stays: Rolla and Denver offices to remain open
USGS stays: Muted celebration
Missourinet (includes audio interview with Emerson)

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MEMORANDUM

June 13, 2007


To: All NGTOC Employees

From: Karen Siderelis /s/ Karen Siderelis
Associate Director for Geospatial Information

Subject: Announcement Regarding National Geospatial Technical Operations Center (NGTOC) Future Directions

This memorandum is to share with you the status and plans of the U.S. Geological Survey regarding the National Geospatial Technical Operations Center (NGTOC) of the National Geospatial Program Office. As you are aware, the USGS announced formation of the NGTOC in January 2005, and developed a business strategy that led to decisions to consolidate four existing mapping centers, planned to use the competitive sourcing (A-76) process to modernize geospatial production activities, and to restructure the workforce to meet modern day requirements for geospatial operations. As explained below, the Department of the Interior has decided to cancel the A-76 study and pursue an alternative strategy to complete this transformation.

The A-76 study process to date has allowed the USGS to plan for and develop more efficient, streamlined approaches to meet mission objectives. New technological advances and innovations are being incorporated into the technical operations and the program has been restructured to include competitive processes that allow the integration of products and services from public and private sector partners into the operations of the USGS geospatial program. Management actions taken include closing two of the four sites and reducing the permanent government workforce from approximately 400 to 180.

The USGS will continue the process of transforming its geospatial technical operations. However, we will discontinue the current A-76 study and use an alternative strategy that builds on the progress described above to achieve efficiencies and modernization of USGS geospatial technical operations. The NGTOC will be operated at two sites in Denver, Colorado and Rolla, Missouri. Management will determine the functions and responsibilities at each site in a way that is driven by program goals, is efficient and sensible, and leverages the strengths of each of the two sites. We expect investments in the process thus far to guide the final transformation of the NGTOC. Decisions and plans will be made expeditiously and we expect the reconfigured NGTOC to be fully operational in the first quarter of calendar year 2008.

The USGS remains committed to the vision of the NGTOC as a world-class center for geospatial operations that is a highly efficient and streamlined organization and is focused on the geospatial needs of the Nation in the 21st century.

Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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MEMORANDUM

June 13, 2007

To: All USGS Employees

From: for Robert Doyle /s/ Karen D. Baker
Deputy Director

Subject: Competitive Sourcing Process for the National Geospatial Technical Operations Center


USGS has determined that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-76 Competitive Sourcing study underway for the functions of the National Geospatial Technical Operations Center (NGTOC) will be cancelled. To expedite the process of transforming its geospatial technical operations in a timely manner, the USGS will use an alternative strategy to the current A-76 process to achieve efficiencies and modernization of the NGTOC.

I realize that mid-stream changes to our Competitive Sourcing plan are frustrating to those of you who are affected by the decisions and those who gave their time to participate in the study process. In this case, I feel the reasons are well-justified. We learn more about the A-76 process every time we go through it, and we will bring best practices forward each time.

I want to thank those directly-affected employees who participated in the studies and cooperated in the examination of their day-to-day duties. In addition, I want to thank the members of the planning teams, the Performance Work Statement Team, Most Efficient Organization Teams, Competitive Sourcing Study Coordinator, Agency Tender Officers, Source Selection Authorities, Contracting Officers, Cost Center Chiefs, and the members of the Competitive Sourcing Team for your exceptional diligence during this study. Investments in the study process thus far will serve as a guide to the final transformation of the NGTOC.

If the above list of participants is any measure, you can see that the USGS takes very seriously our ability to operate efficiently and to compete well in competitive sourcing studies. And, we will continue to do so.

If you have questions, you may email the Competitive Sourcing Team at competitive_sourcing@usgs.gov.

Posted by Adena Schutzberg in USGS at 15:16 | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0) |

Comments

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As the Black Knight said at the crossing, after having suffered the worst of the duel and lost his legs and arms...

"Come back! I'll butt you with me head!"

The attrition and bleeding continue, and the remainder are left hamstrung with little or no resources.

What a farce

#1 Archie Belaney on 2007-06-14 01:01 (Reply)

If the public knew how much time and money is wasted on these two agencies they would have them closed immediately. They serve no purpose for the public sector.

#1.1 employee on 2007-06-14 09:53 (Reply)

Another excellent example of government waste!!

Wasn’t it about this time last year that Representative Emerson had language inserted into the appropriations bill to include the Rolla, Missouri, office in the NGTOC A-76 study? This year she inserts language designed to cancel the very item she requested last year.

Let’s face it. The Rolla, MO, USGS office is just a welfare operation designed to keep the city of Rolla afloat at the taxpayer‘s expense.

#2 Concerned Citizen on 2007-06-15 21:02 (Reply)

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In reply to	[ Top level ]#1: Archie Belaney on 2007-06-14 01:01   #1.1: employee on 2007-06-14 09:53 #2: Concerned Citizen on 2007-06-15 21:02
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