Acquisition
Proposal writers should do the work too
Blogger Steve Kelman takes a dim view of the practice of having professional proposal writers who are not involved in carrying out the work they bid.
Acquisition
Agencies must toughen rules to protect sensitive information, GAO says
Federal officials need to address nondisclosure agreements and the process for notifying officials when information is improperly disclosed or misused.
Acquisition
Government receives a B in small-business contracting
The government awarded more money to small businesses in fiscal 2009 than the year before, with the help of Recovery Act money.
Acquisition
Despite more competition, single-bid contracts stay steady
Noncompetitive contracts declined from fiscal 2005 to fiscal 2009, but contracts receiving only one bid remained steady, GAO says.
Acquisition
More are upbeat among the new generation of contracting professionals
Steve Kelman talks to a new crop of future contracting professionals.
Acquisition
Are you in OMB's high-risk project crosshairs?
When the White House released a list of 26 high-risk IT projects on Aug. 23, federal CIO Vivek Kundra said it wasn't a hit list. But now some of the biggest names in government are under the gun.
Acquisition
Education Department revamps obsolete acquisition regulations
Education Department officials are making the first large-scale revisions to their buying rules since President Ronald Reagan was in the White House.
Acquisition
GSA's IG warns of risky acquisition support
As contracting increases and the acquisition workforce doesn't grow, agencies are looking for backup.
Acquisition
DOD, Army Corps of Engineers falter on subcontracting metrics
The two agencies fail to find a number of reports on whether prime contractors met their goals for awarding subcontracts.
Acquisition
Another GSA monopoly issue?
Blogger Steve Kelman is skeptical about GSA’s tight hold on leasing authority in the federal government.
Acquisition
Agencies form a GWAC force
Governmentwide acquisition contracts are working to combat the growth of other contracts, but they face a tough road ahead.
Acquisition
Are agencies paying too much through the GSA schedule? Readers respond
Blogger Steve Kelman replies to some of the many comments he received on a recent post about the confusion surrounding GSA schedule pricing.
Acquisition
GSA schedules: Are agencies paying too much?
Blogger Steve Kelman is looking to the procurement community for ideas on how to help agencies take full advantage of the General Services Administration's schedules.
Acquisition
Taking the pulse of contracting professionals
A recent conference provided gave blogger Steve Kelman an opportunity to see how procurement executives view strategic sourcing and insourcing.
Acquisition
States leave stimulus law data unclear
States varied in many aspects of using contracting data, including what type of data they routinely collected on contracts awarded for projects funded by stimulus law money, a report states.
Acquisition
NIH wins approval for third CIOSP contract
OMB officials have approved the governmentwide contract after recognizing agencies' new duties because of the major overhaul of the health-care system.
Acquisition
Existing procurements got bulk of Recovery Act contract dollars
Pressure to act quickly on high-priority projects drove agency officials toward existing contracts, GAO reported.
Acquisition
Executive, legislative branches' insourcing edicts send mixed messages
The White House and Congress are beaming decrees across the government about insourcing federal work, but the messages they're sending to agencies and departments are mixed.
Acquisition
SBA, IG disagree on sole-source awards
In awarding two sole-source contracts, IG says SBA officials defeated the purpose of the Recovery Act.
Acquisition