For everyone who regularly follows my blog, thank you! I’m doing things a little differently this time by updating some of my prior posts. For example, what has happened with certain disgraced VA employees? What is the VA’s Center for Verification (CVE) up to? How’s that disastrous Colorado VA construction project coming? See below…
- The VA Accountability Act has passed the House! I blogged on this just last week – this bill gives the VA an expanded right to fire or terminate employees, expands employees’ probationary periods (after which it becomes very difficult to fire them), and it also affords greater whistleblower protection. It now has to pass the Senate and be signed by President Obama (who has expressed that he will veto it). For a particularly insightful take on the bill by a VA employee, see the comments to my prior blog.
- Kingdomware Parties Prepare Briefs. Kingdomware (Petitioner) has until August 18th to file its brief on the merits with the Supreme Court, and the VA (Respondent) has until September 29, 2015. The parties have been duking out this issue since 2012 in multiple forums, and the resolution has the potential of majorly affecting veteran-owned small businesses.
- Colorado VA Construction Project Limps On. In what has been dubbed as the “biggest construction failure in VA history,” the VA continues to try to stop a major cash hemorrhage. Interestingly, despite coverage several months ago stating that the project was already years behind and billions over budget, the press has been relatively silent this summer. The latest update is that the VA is scrambling to find the money needed to finish the project, and is facing budget cuts within its own programs to come up with the cash.
- The VA’s Center for Verification and Evaluation’s (CVE) Gripe Session. In an attempt to seek input from the veteran community, the VA’s CVE (the entity that processes business applications for the VA’s set-aside award programs) is holding focus groups (invitation only). I was invited as a member of the focus group, but was disappointed to learn that I had to appear in person in Washington, D.C. or not at all. Hopefully the CVE will find a way to allow individuals to appear telephonically, as to not do so will limit participation to only those within the Washington, D.C. metro area (or to those who foot their own bill for the travel).
- VA Employee Facing 50 Federal Charges. A VA employee accused of altering medical records has been placed on administrative leave and is now denied access to all of VA’s systems. In a federal indictment, authorities allege that the former Chief of Fee Basis at Charlie Norwood, Cathedral Henderson, terminated unresolved consults by saying the patients had completed or refused services. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count.
That’s the scoop. And as a note, many veteran readers have not been shy about sharing blog topics. This is an open forum, so please do the same if you feel strongly about a particular topic or story.
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I would love to provide input! Third time around and they made in more difficult than first two times. Things that previously met all margins of appropriateness did not hold up to this new group (and that is what “they” kept telling me-they are mostly all new people and are still trying to learn that when you send in only one K-1 document it is clear that there is still only one owner. Plus your resume and explanations for the past two times are not clear enough for them to understand what you do at your company. Whatever happened to making re-certifications a shortened process, especially when nothing has changed in structure and functions?
I have been noticing it’s been taking a lot longer recently. Also, I’ve submitted very clear LOEs citing state law as to why certain documents are not required (in particular, stock certificates), and then the next document request ignores the LOE and asks again for the document.
It’s gotten a lot better in some ways (over the last year and a half in particular), but this isn’t the first or tenth time I’ve heard the complaint that documents passed muster the first and second time but got flagged the third time. Nothing has changed; it’s either: 1) examiner error this time; or 2) examiner error the first and second times (i.e., the document through the gate when it shouldn’t have).
I was made aware of a Contract Officer who was convicted as a child sex abuse offender which I understand is a felony. His name will remain on the child sex offender list for 25 years I am told. Is this acceptable for Government Employees? He was working for the government when convicted five years ago.
Thanks for the updates!! I wondered where some of those stories ended up! 🙂