Acquisition

Senate votes to kill 3 percent withholding tax

Lawmakers vote to repeal a tax that would keep back a percentage of payments made to contractors.

Acquisition

DOD dives deep into sole-source contracting data

Defense acquisition officials are scrutinizing the award of sole-source contracts worth $20 million or more, with a focus on deals awarded to Alaska Native Corporations.

Acquisition

Small-biz set-asides may harm firms, expert says

The plethora of small business programs has 'disenfranchised' many small businesses, yet the government is considering creating a new one.

Acquisition

GSA puts Advantage out for review

GSA upgraded its GSA Advantage! systems early in 2011, and now wants to make sure it's working at its best

Acquisition

Mark Day, CTO at HUD, heads to GSA

GSA brings in new director to oversee governmentwide IT contracts and strategic solutions operations.

Acquisition

HUBZone workforce model suggested for veterans

Companies with veterans on the payroll could get contracting benefits under new proposal

Acquisition

Senators want GAO probe of veteran-owned business program

Senate emphasize the critical need to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the Veterans Affairs Department's program to validate vet-owned small business.

Acquisition

Conflict-of-interest rules could expand

A final rule is set to take effect in December, but its scope could still be expanded.

Acquisition

Kempf: OFPP's legacy is collaboration

Gordon got agency officials to use existing contracts across government, while also sharing their resources, services and contracts.

Acquisition

Alaska Native Corp. program: The case for and against

Critics and supporters disagree about the benefits and disadvantages of the sole-source, set-aside program.

Acquisition

Agencies told to set aside more orders for small firms

Officials want small companies to get more businesses in the growing world of task and delivery orders since that’s where the money has increasingly been going

Acquisition

Bidding for savings: Reverse auctions gain new favor

Reverse auctions, always a tool agencies can use, get a boost from a new report

Acquisition

How the $16 muffin story harms the discourse

The story of conference muffins costing $16 each, a recently iconic mental image of government waste, is false -- and Steve Kelman explains why spreading such stories is harmful.

Acquisition

A new push to rethink the small-biz contracting payoff

Where's the return on investment if agencies invest in and foster small businesses that are bought or fail once they outgrow the small-business program?

Acquisition

Contractor tax repeal advances

The House approves a repeal of the 3 percent withholding tax on contractors. Next up: a Senate vote.

Acquisition

Agencies, companies wait in limbo about tax repeal

Officials throughout the government—including state and local governments—and contracting companies are having to spend money to modify their systems for a law that might be repealed before it takes effect.

Acquisition

Other cartels that might alarm the former federal CIO

Conspiracy-seekers might not have to look very far to find cause for concern.

Acquisition

Obama: Tax-delinquent measure would complicate contracting

A bill would prohibit an agency from awarding a contract worth more than $5 million unless the company is up to date on its taxes.

Acquisition

Union: Too much discretion in outsourcing will come with a price

Outsourcing critical work could, in the long run, cost agencies their institutional knowledge, argues Colleen Kelley, national president of the National Treasury Employees Union.

Acquisition

When it comes to outsourcing decisions, everyone angles to be 'critical'

The 'intentionally vague' definition of 'critical function' could apply to almost all agency work, says Robert Burton, deputy OFPP administrator during the George W. Bush administration.