Just talked to OMB about this really cool program…basically the President is reaching out to government workers for ideas to improve government with winners getting awards. To me, these simple programs make so much sense, energize and empower workers, and are good for our nation….
More info below
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Today, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is launching the President’s SAVE (Securing Americans Value and Efficiency) Award contest, a new effort to gather ideas from government workers about how to boost government performance and save taxpayer dollars.
The President believes that especially in these economically difficult times it’s critical that taxpayer dollars be invested in programs that work, not wasted on those that don’t.
That’s why this Administration has undertaken a line-by-line review of the budget, initiated contracting reform that will save $40 billion, and put forth a volume of $17 billion of budget cuts in this year’s budget.
In April, the President directed Cabinet members to identify at least $100 million in collective cuts to their administrative budgets, separate and apart from those identified in FY 2010 Budget.
The President also believes that it’s important for us to hear the voices of those on the front-lines. On April 25th, 2009, President Obama, in his weekly address, called for “a process through which every government worker can submit their ideas for how their agency can save money and perform better.”
The SAVE award contest is helping fulfill that promise and provide all federal employees with the opportunity to submit their cost-saving ideas for potential inclusion in the President’s budget.
The goal of the SAVE Award is to produce ideas that will save taxpayer dollars while also improving the way that government operates.
Government employees can submit their idea via an online form at www.SaveAward.gov
The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, October 14th. The winner will be announced in November.
The winner will get to present their idea directly to President Obama and also have his or her idea included in the FY 2011 budget.
That is cool!
Why not have a standing program that gives anyone who finds a way to save money some tiny fraction of what was saved the first few years after its adoption. Is there a fairer way to pay for performance?
I work at the Business Transformation Agency (part of DoD) and our Director wrote an OpEd in the Federal Times back in May on a topic similar to this. He calls it “Save it, Don’t Spend It”. Glad to see this is the kind of culture shift starting, hopefully it will sustain.
You can read the OpEd here: http://www.federaltimes.com/index.php?S=4080971
Here’s my money saving idea I submitted about 2 weeks ago:
http://saveaward2010.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Equitably–scoring–real-property-leases-vs.-ownership-/47394-9432
Please consider voting for this, as I am sure it is a very simple way for us to change the way we look at leasing federal real property.
Best,
Steve