Future MDA, NASA, and military job loss (Huntsville, Valley: price, move to)

[mm42]

Point 1: MDA doesn't use GS pay scale - they use NSPS.

Point 2: There is a separate GS pay scale for engineers that is higher than the normal GS scale.

[saljo]

Rumor for the day......North Grumman has extended work to postpone layoffs until December. .....Anyone else hearing this rumor?

[saljo]

Today someone was at the AMCOM In Sourcing Site pointing out a few things. This began the topic of the day --conversion of contractor position to government employee --- Of course, this lead to questions for all agencies ........

(Based on the AMCOM web site statements)
AMCOM In-Sourcing Information Site-https://ams8.redstone.army.mil/cmcw/cmcw_home

1--
Statement
"The conversion of contractor positions to DAC positions will take place over the next two to three years, beginning in October 2009, as contracts expire."

Question
What about contracts on options years? At the end of the option year can they convert positions, instead of waiting to the end of the contract?


2--
What agencies in Huntsville do you think this will effect--the most?
AMCOM
MDA
SMDC
USASAC
other


3--
Statement
Q3) How many companies will be affected?
A3) Less than 30 companies represented locally will be affected. Fifteen companies have less than 10 positions affected and only four companies have more than 100 positions affected.

Question
Most hit companies and contracts for Huntsville?
Based on statement seems min. around 550 positions +/- for AMCOM


4--
Statement
Q1) Why are some jobs converting and other are not?
A1) Each individual contractor position across Army Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command (AMCOM LCMC) was evaluated based upon the work being performed by the contractor against the criteria provided by Army Materiel Command Headquarters (AMC HQ). Only those positions that were deemed appropriate will be insourced.

Question
Statement does not point out service or support roles, but written as if all positions are being reveiwed?
Previous statement by Gates referenced certain type of positions, service and support roles (besides acqusitions).?

[jkratze1]

Originally Posted by saljo

Rumor for the day......North Grumman has extended work to postpone layoffs until December. .....Anyone else hearing this rumor?

I assume this is GMD and KEI work which has been extended.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by HB2HSV

All that is possible, if there are other places within Boeing that can and willing to issue IWA or pay for TDYs. Several of my friends are in Seattle now on TDY.

I'd suspect that, within each site (such as Boeing-huntsville), managers talk with each other to decide where they can staff people. It is also a "skill-retention" (more like buddy-retention) issue. Say if GMD budget is cut, they will look at who they want to keep and get rid of others in another program to transfer these people in. I had a friend who's just been transfer into the NASA Ares program when his project funding was cut.

Also talk to another buddy who works MDA on the government side as support contractor. They expect they may have to staff up next year because these contractors are laying off and cutting back scope of work. Ironic, isn't it?

Pentagon suppliers to vie for missile defense deal | Politics | Reuters

[jkratze1]

Originally Posted by Charles

Pentagon suppliers to vie for missile defense deal | Politics | Reuters

Ok, I'm confused now. First GMD funding is being cut. Then contractors vie for GMD contracts. I guess they are competing for whatever GMD funding remains, but hardly seems a growth area under the current administration.

[mm42]

Originally Posted by jkratze1

Ok, I'm confused now. First GMD funding is being cut. Then contractors vie for GMD contracts. I guess they are competing for whatever GMD funding remains, but hardly seems a growth area under the current administration.

There's nothing to be confused about - $200M/year is a nice contract to win.

[ionlife]

Originally Posted by mm42

Already started! LTG O'Reilly's pet project is to bring in entry-level engineers straight from college and train them as the next generation of missile defense experts.

The first 60 started reporting 2 weeks ago.

I don't know if this program will be successful in the long term, but the response from the students was impressive. MDA got 1600+ applications for the 60 positions, so you can imagine they were able to select very capable youngsters for these positions. Of course, the horrid economy made the timing perfect and this level of interest may not be sustainable over the long term.

They had to do this because there is a huge brain drain due to people unwilling to move here from larger areas. And there are less people with advanced degrees in engineering and science (like PhDs in Physics) to fill these type of jobs in the future. If we are to maintain our edge in the world as innovative and strong leaders, we must train the next generation.

And I know just the right person to help

[mm42]

Originally Posted by dramamama

They had to do this because there is a huge brain drain due to people unwilling to move here from larger areas.

This is not a Huntsville program - the interns are spread around to all of MDAs major centers - DC, Dahlgren, and Huntsville. It's about the next generation, not about BRAC moves.

[ionlife]

Originally Posted by mm42

This is not a Huntsville program - the interns are spread around to all of MDAs major centers - DC, Dahlgren, and Huntsville. It's about the next generation, not about BRAC moves.

It is partly about the BRAC moves as was stated in a post by another poster on this thread. And yes, of course it is also about the next generation. Up until now, young bright people who wanted to make high incomes weren't necessarily drawn to Engineering/PhD science programs. Perhaps the tide has changed, but it cannot be linked only to MDA and gov't salaries if it is to remain strong and viable as a draw.

But let's just say you win--I'm sure that you'll be happy to get that victory.