Federal Drive interviews – July 31

USDA Under Secretary Michael Scuse explains how the agency is taking historic steps to help farmers suffering from record droughts. And procurement attorney ...

Michael ScuseUnder Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services at USDA

With a historic drought sweeping across the Midwest, the Agriculture Department is letting farmers use previously-off limits land. USDA is granting haying and grazing privileges on land that has been set aside under the Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP. USDA Undersecretary Michael Scuse has spent the last two weeks visiting drought-stricken farmland in the Midwest and Middle Atlantic and discusses this unprecedented step the agency is now taking.


Devon HewittProcurement Attorney at Protorae Law

Agencies are relying more and more on multiple-award contracts, but small businesses contend they’re often left out of the deal. A few months ago, the Small Business Administration released its plan for how agencies could include small businesses in this contract vehicle of choice. The proposed rule would implement key provisions of a 2010 law known as the Small Business Jobs Act. Hewitt calls the proposal one of the “most significant” for small businesses issued in the past decade. She has analysis of the rule in Federal News Radio’s Legal Loop segment.

Related stories:

Final Rule Issued Re: Reporting Executive Compensation (Protorae Law blog)

SBA issues proposed rules for small-biz participation in multiple-award contracts (Federal News Radio)


Rob HardisonConsultant, LMI

Federal agencies have been under pressure to lower their energy, water, and supplies consumption. First president Bush and now President Obama have imposed ever tougher goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It turns out, agencies have found an easy way around the expense and effort of new air conditioners, green roofs and snazzy new windows. They’re buying renewable energy credits instead.

Related stories:

Agencies buying energy credits to meet mandates (Federal Times)


Rob LevinsonDefense Analyst at Bloomberg Government

Pentagon spokesman George Little recently said all defense contracts signed after October 1 but before January 2, 2013, will not be exempt from sequestration. That reverses an earlier statement to the contrary. So what does this mean for contracts in the final stages of completion?

Read Levinson’s report (paid site that requires subscription)


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