| Comment Number: | OL-10511101 |
| Received: | 3/16/2005 2:01:16 PM |
| Subject: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Request for Comment |
| Title: | National Security Personnel System |
| CFR Citation: | 5 CFR Chapter XCIX and Part 9901 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
Regarding the National Security Personnel System (NSPS): I have been working for the DOD in some capacity since 1971. I am retired from the Reserves after 26 years and have 28 years in Civil Service presently working for the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA). The work has been challenging but rewarding up until the implementation of “Acquisition reform” (about 1991) at which time, I suspect that Government Procurement was taken control of by a covert few and that NSPS could be a milestone of their mission. I believe that the NSPS system will be used irresponsibly to change the way workers are paid, evaluated, promoted, fired, scheduled, and treated based upon the ‘control’ of a few. These rules would create a system in which federal managers are influenced by favoritism rather than serving the civil concerns of the American people. I base this on my own personnel observations. I have been witness to fraud and mismanagement and have seen it spiral out of control in the new DCMA (formally DLA/DCMC) to the extent of Gross Mismanagement and even to witness attempts to put out by physical force, employees who provided insight to contractor fraud, and I assure you that those who support NSPS have no earthly idea how destructive this will be to our country. Cover-ups are widespread and NSPS is just the tool needed to improve this process. I see total disregard for Public Law and I have even witnessed via live web cam based seminars by DCMA (formerly DCMC) that any FAR requirement can be easily discarded. [Talk about ‘control’?] On a daily basis I see the US Government taxpayer dollars being squandered. I have witnessed budgeted incentive award monies being distributed to the “front office” [executive employees] while many good workers received nothing. I witnessed the suction of every last bit of excess contract money from one contract to another. I’ve witnessed a lot more! I myself had worked above my pay grade for a full year and received written acclamations of performance from my customers (this should guarantee some incentive award) but received nothing as a yearly incentive award while others who also received nothing, filed EEO complaints and subsequently received awards and at the same time, the front office executives got the biggest, fattest bonuses of all. I have seen people in supervisory positions grossly mismanage their office by disregarding rules and still be given praise by their superiors during “All Hand’s Meetings.” What a slap in the face to the American Patriot and Tax-payer. Although I am outraged by the thought of NSPS; I am not at all surprised. The abuse of power and control is under control. I quote another’s description of NSPS: “Friend of the Supervisor” Pay System: With the new patronage pay system, which DoD calls “pay for performance,” the amount of a worker's salary will depend almost completely on the personal judgment of his or her manager. This system will force workers to compete with one another for pay raises, which will destroy teamwork, increase conflict among employees, and reward short-term outcomes. There is no guarantee that even the best workers will receive a pay raise or that the pay offered will be fair or competitive. This system will create a situation in which workers are in conflict with one another and afraid to speak out about harassment, violations of the law, and workplace safety problems. Furthermore, there will be no impartial appeal system to assure that everyone is treated fairly. I think that it’s quite likely that those who support NSPS don’t really know what’s going on in the real world of the Government’s procurement and I suggest to those who really care, to take a closer look before you let this monster out. Remember that the Governments budget is continuously spent: Do you know where your dollars are? I urge you to force DoD to rethink this proposal. We need work rules that preserve fairness serve the American people, and respect the rights of Defense Department workers.