Acquisition
VA national contracting oversight system inadequate, IG says
The Veterans Affairs Department's inspector general recently audited national contracts and found problems.
Acquisition
Why is GAO's glass so often half empty?
GAO reports often take a pessimistic tone about what could be seen as good news. Steve Kelman wonders why.
Acquisition
DOD urged to speed up small-biz contracting
With just a few weeks left in fiscal 2011, Leon Panetta warned that DOD is falling short of its departmentwide small business contracting goal.
Acquisition
5 keys to improving federal procurement
Fixing the fundamentals is more important than introducing innovation, one reader argues.
Acquisition
DOD: Wartime contracting reforms underway
Defense officials say they have toughened prosecution of fraudulent contractors and boosted the department’s overall acquisition workforce, including contract managers.
Acquisition
Defense Department revisits its acquisition history
The department is seeking a fact-checker and editor to undertake major revisions of a book series titled "History of Acquisition in the Department of Defense."
Acquisition
Wartime contracting prone to waste, commission finds
Despite knowing it would need heavy contractor support for war operations, the military wasn't ready to manage the contract spending -- and still isn't.
Acquisition
Labor toughens hiring rules for service contractors
The theory is that the government can continue operations more smoothly when a successor service company hires the previous company's employees.
Acquisition
Regulatory reforms to hit competition, communication
President Barack Obama ordered agencies to modernize and increase the transparency of their regulation of industry and commerce.
Acquisition
GSA aims to consolidate federal IT commodity buys
GSA officials propose creating as many as 10 blanket purchase agreements covering laptops, desktops and other popular IT products.
Acquisition
The ghosts of small businesses past
Critics say SBA's small-business score cards are meaningless because small businesses aren't actually doing the work.
Acquisition
Defense agencies adjust procurement thinking
At a time when the government is drawing borders around contractors, some defense IT officials are pinning their technology hopes on their close partnerships with companies.
Acquisition
Government-industry group sifts out top contracting reforms
ACT-IAC started a website to survey the government vendor community's view on IT acquisition reforms.
Acquisition
Procurement contests pooh-poohed by an unlikely source
Steve Kelman is disappointed in an attack on federal procurement competitions from a source he never would have expected.
Acquisition
How agencies can cut contracting costs
As agencies tighten their belts, contracting is ripe for cost savings, writes columnist Steve Kelman.
Acquisition
The hidden cost of strained government/industry relations
Despite efforts to foster dialogue, the relationship between government and industry seems to be on a downward spiral, writes consultant Jaime Gracia.
Acquisition
Congressman questions agencies on small-business advocates' authority
Rep. Mulvaney, chairman of a contracting subcommittee, wants to know why small-business advocate office officials don’t have access to top officials.
Acquisition
Competition in new IT contract may take old path
GSA squeezed 599 small businesses into four categories of business, but the orders still will go to a few aggressive companies and may even cause headaches for agencies.
Acquisition
VA continues to pay ineligible contractors, audit finds
Serious deficiencies in contracting at the Veterans Affairs Department are allowing ineligible contractors to work and get paid, audits find.
Acquisition