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
Alliant tops $1 billion in 14 months of business
The General Services Administration's Alliant governmentwide acquisition contract outpaces its predecessors, ANSWER and Millennia, in overall sales, according to sales figures.
Acquisition
New SBA deputy administrator confirmed by Senate
Marie Collins Johns will be the second-ranking official at the Small Business Administration, with responsibilities for management, policy development and program supervision.
Acquisition
DOD bills put focus on acquisition, insourcing
In their respective defense authorization bills, the House and Senate are attempting to end quotas and limit cost-comparison factors while strengthening acquisition processes.
Acquisition
Good news: Progress on strategic sourcing
The General Services Administration’s new strategic sourcing agreements for office supplies makes good business sense, writes blogger Steve Kelman.
Acquisition
GSA client support centers earn good marks from auditors
Three audits found the client support centers in GSA's Southeast Sunbelt, Mid-Atlantic and National Capital regions compliant with the Federal Acquisition Regulation, as well as the Defense Department's procurement requirements.
Acquisition
VA's Frye sees flexibility in the Federal Acquisition Regulation
Although many people in the acquisition community view the Federal Acquisition Regulation as a confining regulatory book, VA Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and Logistics Jan Frye takes a different approach.
Acquisition
Groups want clarity for insourcing jobs
An IT industry group said the Office of Federal Procurement Policy must clearly distinguish between the functions that only a federal employee should perform and the IT solutions the private sector offers to support agencies.
Acquisition
VA said to fall behind on verifying veteran-owned businesses
Through April, the VA had verified only 14 percent of companies in Vetbiz.gov, a database of companies able to get set-aside contracts.
Acquisition
House approves legislation to limit insourcing quotas
Bill would limit insourcing quotas and set hiring preferences.
Acquisition
Army plans review of what and how it buys
Army officials have tasked an independent panel with an in-depth review of how it buys goods and services and who makes the purchases.
Acquisition
Governmentwide contracting: In praise of duplication and overlap
Blogger Steve Kelman writes that the problem of having different prices for the same item across various contracts is better than having just one bad price everywhere.
Acquisition
Total number of interagency/enterprisewide contracts is anyone's guess
Federal agencies spend about $60 billion a year on interagency and enterprisewide contracts, but there is limited evidence that they are being effectively used and managed, according to the Government Accountability Office.
Acquisition
Senate votes to expand access Federal Supply Schedules
The Senate has passed the Federal Supply Schedules Usage Act, which would make permanent programs that allow states and local governments buy goods and services from the General Services Administration’s Multiple Award Schedules program’s contracts.
Acquisition
VA publishes draft solicitation for upcoming 'T4' IT acquisition
The Veterans Affairs Department is preparing to request bids on its $12 billion Transformation Twenty-One Total Technology IT services acquisition in June.
Acquisition
Bursting the bubble for federal contractors
The $1 billion acquisition of Stanley by CGI Group of Montreal might be a harbinger of tough times ahead for federal contractors.
Acquisition