Archived News

National Business Center Aviation Management Directorate Signs New Interagency Agreement with the Office of the Federal Coordinator

WASHINGTON – The Department of the Interior’s (DOI) National Business Center (NBC) Aviation Management Directorate (AMD) is pleased to announce the signing of an inaugural Interagency Agreement (IA) with the Office of the Federal Coordinator (OFC) for Alaska National Gas Transportation Projects. On July 17, 2009, NBC’s AMD signed an IA with OFC to provide aircraft services, transporting project personnel to and from proposed Alaskan pipeline routes and pinch points… To view the full news release visit our Press Room at http://www.nbc.gov/press/.
(August 2009)

National Business Center-Aviation Management wins the 2008 Federal Aviation Program Award (Small Category)

WASHINGTON – The Department of the Interior’s (DOI) National Business Center’s (NBC) Aviation Management Directorate (AMD), headquartered in Boise, ID has been selected as the 2008 winner of the Federal Aviation Program of the Year Award (Small Category), according to Ms. Becky Rhodes, U. S. General Services Administration (GSA), Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Travel, Transportation, and Asset Management, as well as the Chair, Interagency Committee for Aviation Policy (ICAP). This represents the first time since the award's inception in 2000 that DOI has received this highly esteemed award.

The GSA, which sponsors the ICAP, promotes, coordinates and sponsors the annual Federal Aviation Awards program to recognize and publicize excellence in Federal aviation during the period of January 1 – December 31, of each calendar year. The winning program for this prestigious award is judged to be the safest, most efficient and effective, in all aspects of flight program management, which includes aviation management/administration, operations, maintenance, training, and safety.

To read full Trade Release, visit our Press Page at: http://www.nbc.gov/press
(July 2009)

National Business Center Aviation Management Directorate and U.S. Forest Service Sign First-Ever Joint Authorization Letter for Use of Very Large Air Tankers (VLAT)

Pat Norbury, National Aviation Operations Officer, USFS Aviation Management and Mark Bathrick, Associate Director NBC Aviation Management sign VLAT authorization

WASHINGTON - Since 1958, the interagency aerial firefighting community has experienced a pattern of mishaps, resulting in 136 Large Air Tanker fatalities and periodic in-flight structural failures. This has resulted in significant human, financial, equipment, and credibility cost to the interagency fire aviation community over many decades.

As part of a concerted interagency effort to break this chain and improve the safety of aerial firefighting, in the summer of 2008 the National Business Center (NBC) Aviation Management Directorate (AMD) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) embarked on a groundbreaking tri-agency partnership with NASA to bring a new science-based approach to the suitability assessment of aerial firefighting aircraft. The subject of this effort was a new class of air tanker, the Very Large Air Tanker. Very Large Air Tankers (VLAT) are defined as air tankers over 255,000 lbs certificated gross take off weight and able to carry in excess of 11,000 gallons of fire retardant. Former passenger/cargo aircraft like B-747’s and DC-10’s are included in this category.

To listen to podcast concerning this Trade Release, click here.

To read full Trade Release, visit our Press Page at: http://www.nbc.gov/press
(June 2009)

DOI University Presents the SES Forum Series Featuring Mark Shields

From l to r: Mark Shields; Lynn McPheeters; Dr. Jason Fichtner, Acting Commissioner, Social Security Administration

DOI University hosted a witty, enlightening, and highly entertaining Senior Executive Service Forum Series event featuring political columnist and commentator Mark Shields.  This final event in the series was held in the Amphitheater of the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center on June 16, 2009.  Doug Bourgeois, the NBC Director, introduced Mr. Shields to an audience of over 300 senior executives from a cross section of federal Departments and agencies.  DOIU was honored to have Dr. Jason Fichtner, Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration and James Van Laak, Deputy Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration in the audience.  Mr. Shields shared his impressions of past and current leaders against the backdrop of American politics and stressed the crucial role that optimism and confidence plays in a leader’s effectiveness and success.  

The SES Forum Series features award winning authors, renowned speakers, and recognized business leaders who present on a variety of leadership topics that relate to OPM’s Executive Core Qualifications.  Executives have an opportunity to exchange thoughts and ideas with the speakers and to network with other federal executives during the event. In addition, each attendee receives a copy of the featured book.  The 2010 SES Forum Series will be announced in early fall and agencies can purchase subscriptions through DOI University.
(June 2009)

NBC Pursues Convergence of Cloud Computing
and Shared Services

The National Business Center (NBC) is a Federal leader in the delivery of business management services such as payroll, financial management, contract management, and information technology for other Federal agencies.  Doug Bourgeois, NBC Director, recently participated in an interview with the NY Times on cloud computing.  Mr. Bourgeois is leading the NBC to bring the benefits of cloud computing to both NBC's business services clients and data center hosting clients alike through advancements to the highly efficient NBC shared infrastructure.  To read Mr. Bourgeois' comments and the full article, visit the NY Times website at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/15/technology/business-computing/15blue.html
(June 2009)

FPSD Chief Barbara Walters
to Speak at the AGA Conference

To learn more, visit the 58th AGA Professional Development Conference and Exposition Website at: www.agacgfm.org/pdc2009

Barbara Walters, Chief of the NBC Finance and Procurement Systems Division (FPSD) will be speaking at the upcoming AGA Professional Development Conference. The session, “Multi-Jurisdictional Procurement: How the Internet Changed Everything”, will be held on Tuesday June 23rd. The NBC will also be participating as an exhibitor at the event, June 21-23, in New Orleans. Associates from the Financial Management Line of Business (FM LoB) will be staffing Booth 47 in the Exhibit Hall.

To learn more about the NBC at the AGA Conference, visit our Events & Announcements page at http://www.nbc.gov/events/
(June 2009)

NBC Director Doug Bourgeois Discusses
Cloud Computing at AFFIRM

Doug Bourgeois, Director National Business Center, participated on a CIO/CFO Panel: The New IT Economics, in the Federal Government, held during the May 21, 2009 meeting of The Association of Federal Information Resources Management (AFFIRM) organization. To read Doug’s comments concerning the future of Federal “cloud computing”, visit the nextgov web site at: http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090521_6380.php
(May 2009)

The National Business Center’s Aviation Management Directorate Hosted International Aviation Expert in Training Sessions

The National Business Center (NBC), Aviation Management Directorate’s (AMD) Alaska Regional Office (AKRO) teamed up with the Medallion Foundation to host training courses with Aviation Safety expert Mike Doiron.  Mr. Doiron is a World Class Instructor in Aviation Safety and AMD was pleased to host two of his courses: System Safety and Human Factor Workshop in March 2009.  … To view the full news release visit our Press Room at http://www.nbc.gov/press/
(May 2009)

DOI Safety and Health Awareness Week, May 18-21, 2009

NBC Coordinates MIB's DOI Safety and Health Awareness Week, May 18-21, 2009

The National Business Center is coordinating DOI's Safety and Health Awareness Week activities in the Main Interior Building (MIB). For a calendar of events leading up to and through the week's activities, visit our Safety and Health web page. For additional information contact Stephen D'Antoni at 202-501-8693 or email at Stephen_D'Antoni@nbc.gov.
(April 2009)

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Selects Interior’s National Business Center as Human Resources Service Provider

DOI’s National Business Center to Become the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Human Resources LOB Shared Service Center Provider

Department of the Interior’s (DOI) National Business Center (NBC) announced today that it has been selected as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Human Resources Line of Business Shared Services Center (SSC) provider. 

The selection made on December 19, 2008 calls for the NBC to provide HR shared services for FERC’s 1,500 employees. The NBC will provide personnel and payroll services and operations through the Federal Personnel Payroll System (FPPS)…To view the full news release visit our Press Room at http://www.nbc.gov/press/.
(April 2009)

The National Business Center's Aviation Management Directorate Participated in the 20th Annual International Women in Aviation Conference

From Left to Right- FWS, Karen Bollinger, AMD, Maria Mancano, and Aviation Training Specialist – Meg Gallagher

This was NBC's first ever exhibit at the annual conference. Sponsoring a full exhibit provided an opportunity for outreach to an important segment of the aviation community and highlights NBC's commitment to increase opportunities for women. To view the full news release visit our Press Room at http://www.nbc.gov/press/.
(March 2009)

The National Business Center Financial Management and Budget Directorate Completes Two Financial System Implementations

The National Business Center’s (NBC) Financial Management and Budget Directorate (FBD) recently completed two financial system implementations, one for The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) and the second for The Debt Management Services (DMS) division at the Financial Management Service, a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Both Federal agencies will now be able to take full advantage of the NBC’s Oracle shared standard business model. The NBC’s business model provides the opportunity for Federal agencies to share a single instance of a financial application system and allows the system costs to be shared among all customers making annual operations and maintenance very affordable. To view the full news release visit our Press Room at http://www.nbc.gov/press/.
(January 2009)