Oak Ridge Today

Burgan named assistant procurement manager at DOE Oak Ridge

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Jeff Burgan

Jeff Burgan (DOE photo/Lynn Freeny)

Jeffrey R. Burgan was recently named assistant manager for procurement and contracts at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office.

In his new position, Burgan leads a staff of 30 federal employees and is responsible for overseeing, administering, and support of procurement and financial assistance awards servicing site management offices for the Department’s Office of Science national laboratories across the United States, a press release said.

His responsibilities also include contractual management of the Nuclear Energy Oak Ridge Site Office and the ORO Small Business Program. [Read more…]

Honors: ORAU director receives Top Professionals Under 40 award

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ORAU Heidi Timmerman Award

Heidi H. Timmerman, center, accepts the Top Professionals Under 40 in Contract Management Award during the National Contract Management Association’s 33rd Annual Government Contract Management Symposiusm Fall Chapter Leader Summit 2014 Awards Reception. The award was presented by NCMA Executive Director Michael Fischetti, left, and NCMA President Larry Trowel. (Submitted photo)

 

Heidi H. Timmerman, director of procurement and contracts for Oak Ridge Associated Universities, was recently awarded the Top Professionals Under 40 in Contract Management distinction from the National Contract Management Association, a press release said.

Timmerman—who is responsible for overseeing ORAU’s activities related to prime contract administration, the Work for Others program under the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education contract, subcontract administration, and small business outreach—was recognized for being a top performer in the contract management profession under the age of 40.

This honor recognizes Timmerman for her contract management knowledge and willingness to mentor others, as well as her involvement with various community organizations such as NCMA and the United Way of Anderson County, the press release said. [Read more…]

Council to discuss DOE funding, support tonight

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Oak Ridge City Council

The Oak Ridge City Council has a special meeting tonight to discuss U.S. Department of Energy support and funding. (File photo/August 2013)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council will discuss U.S. Department of Energy funding and support during a special meeting tonight. It’s described at least in part as an “information-gathering session.”

The special meeting was called by City Council members Trina Baughn and Charlie Hensley. Hensley, in particular, has raised questions about whether DOE is paying its fair share to the city.

Here’s the language outlining tonight’s discussion:

“to discuss and possibly take action on a plan to engage DOE officials with regards to their obligations to the City of Oak Ridge and its citizenry. Let it [the special meeting request] include formally requesting, in writing, a DOE Community Assistance Review as allowed within AECA 1955, PL 84-221, DOE Order 2100.12A, and other supporting legislation, including those self-sufficiency plans dating from 1980 through a Council Resolution and other joint local government collaborative action to include a specific date for a response.”

[Read more…]

Labor Secretary announces proposal to raise minimum wage for federal contract workers

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Proposed rule would raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour for covered workers

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez on Thursday announced a proposed rule raising the minimum wage for workers on federal service and construction contracts to $10.10 per hour. The proposed rule implements Executive Order 13658, which was announced by President Barack Obama on Feb. 12.

“A core American value is that hard work should be rewarded with fair pay,” Perez said in a press release. “And as the president said in his State of the Union address, if you cook our troops’ meals or wash their dishes, you shouldn’t have to live in poverty.

“Raising the minimum wage for workers on federal contracts will provide a much needed boost to many who are working hard, but still struggle to get by, and it will also benefit taxpayers with improved employee retention and productivity. Today the department took an important step toward making the promise of the executive order a reality for thousands of workers.” [Read more…]

Honors: DOE employee listed among area’s rising leaders

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Heather Cloar of U.S Department of Energy

Heather Cloar, a U.S. Department of Energy employee in Oak Ridge, was named as a member of this year’s 40 Under 40.

By Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management

Earlier this year, the Greater Knoxville Business Journal compiled a list of East Tennessee’s top rising business and community leaders under the age of 40. The 2014 listing featured Heather Cloar, a contracting officer with the Energy Department in Oak Ridge.

Specifically, Heather, an Energy Department employee since 2002, is the federal official responsible for administering the $2.2 billion environmental cleanup contract with URS-CH2M Oak Ridge LLC, or UCOR. She is responsible for reviewing and approving all contract actions and guaranteeing that the contract remains aligned with EM’s priorities. She also certifies that the contractor’s work is performed in a cost-efficient manner to ensure the best value for American taxpayers. As a testament to her watchful oversight and frequent interaction with contractor leadership, UCOR completed the department’s largest-ever demolition project one year ahead of schedule and approximately $300 million under the current budget.

“Heather is making sure we are getting the best deal for the taxpayers under the contract and making sure the contract stays on schedule,” said Karen Shears, chief of the special acquisitions branch for DOE’s procurement and contracts division. “She’s got excellent judgment and great leadership skills, which is something you need because you interact with so many stakeholders.” [Read more…]

Guest column: City needs a return on public spending on Chamber, ORCVB

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By Leslie Agron and Pat Fain

This coming Monday evening, the Oak Ridge City Council and the city manager will hold a work session that has the potential to become the seminal discussion on the future growth and success of Oak Ridge. This discussion will probably begin with the question of the city contracts with the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce ($250,000) and the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau ($400,000) and, unfortunately, it may just end there. If this happens it could be another significant opportunity fumbled.

There are very legitimate reasons to question the continued expenditure of public dollars for the type and quality of results delivered by these two entities. The need for growth of revenue is real. Several years ago, without even a minimal public discussion of what kind of city we want to be in the future, the city and the Chamber entered into a series of open-ended contracts. That produced amorphous and inadequate results. The Chamber can well blame a lack of direction and vision on the city. The city can point to lots of sound and fury and fast food restaurants as being an inadequate answer to long-term financial woes and economic growth needs.

[Read more…]

Council approves tourism, economic development contracts

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The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday unanimously approved $450,000 worth of tourism and economic development contracts.

The city’s tourism agency, the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau, got a slight increase in city funding compared to last year. Its new one-year contract is worth up to $410,000, up from a maximum of about $404,000 last year.

The second contract, valued at $42,000, is with economic development consultant Ray Evans.

[Read more…]