Acquisition
OMB: Agencies must crack down on contractors
Agencies have not used suspension and debarment authorities effectively, Lew says
Acquisition
What do supermarket cashiers, gas-station attendants and the dodo have in common?
At the National Contract Management Conference, Steve Kelman learns what procurement officials fear these days
Acquisition
Senate clamps down on contractors in sensitive jobs
An appropriations bill would require contracts to leave contractors out of work closely tied to inherently governmental functions.
Acquisition
Contracting out strikes out again among my students
A survey of Kelman’s public policy students shows declining supporting for contracting out government services.
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