The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last week announced further savings and cost avoidances totaling nearly $90 million through its ongoing Efficiency Review launched in February.
Nearly all of the savings is being obtained by the consolidation of 487,000 software licences into one DHS-wide license for Microsoft [MSFT] software and maintenance, resulting in a $87.5 million cost avoidance over the next six years, DHS said. Another $1.5 million in savings is being generated through a consolidation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from over 200 licenses for Oracle [ORCL] software to one unlimited licence agreement over the next year.
“Our Efficiency Review has already generated millions of dollars in cost avoidances, enabling us to direct more resources to critical security programs,” DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a statement.
Napolitano also announced the start of five new efficiency initiatives. These include efforts to ensure that DHS retains skilled full-time workers, increase coordination between headquarter and operational components, standardize content for new employee orientation and annual training, implement energy efficiencies in facility management projects, and expand the acquisition and leasing of hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles.
Other savings DHS announced through ongoing Efficiency Review initiatives include $640,000 in travel costs by Customs and Border Protection in FY ’09 by posting training materials online and hosting web-based training sessions. The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center saved $104,000 in travel costs by holding its recent biennial leadership conference at its office instead of a private facility.
The Coast Guard is saving about $95,000 a year in printing and mailing costs by moving to an e-invitation system to manage invitations for major events. And ICE will save over $90,000 by redeploying vehicles in their existing fleet instead of buying new ones, DHS said.