Acquisition
Report: Think twice before in-sourcing government work
Taking work from the private sector should be done deliberately and based on facts, not innuendo and rhetoric, according to a new report.
Acquisition
Regulators to discuss how to get authentic IT
Officials continue talks with industry about how to make sure the government buys authentic IT products.
Acquisition
Senators grease skids for Johnson to head GSA
Senators say Martha Johnson, President Barack Obama's nominee to be GSA administrator, has a lot of experience in the private sector and in government.
Acquisition
IG: NIH follows most buying rules
The National Institutes of Health's assisted acquisition services have improved, but some problems remain, an inspector general has found.
Acquisition
Contractor salary cap raised by OFPP
The Obama administration's scrutiny of contractors and their salaries makes this cap more important than ever, an expert said.
Acquisition
Obama signs law to reform weapons buying
The new law gives Defense Department officials more requirements for overseeing big-ticket weapons acquisitions to keep them on schedule and hold down costs.
Acquisition
Experts: Acquisition jobs offer few incentives
A panel of experts said the field has lost its luster because the jobs have become administrative positions.
Acquisition
Proposal would clarify sole-source language
Regulators want to amend regulations to minimize confusion about when a small business owned by a service-disabled veteran can get a sole-source contract.
Acquisition
Bills back GSA Multiple Award program
The GSA Multiple Award Schedules program is often the first step for small business entering the federal contracting marketplace.
Acquisition
Alaska Natives grab senator's attention
The special set-aside status of Alaska Native Corporations raises questions as Congress and administration seek to end no-bid and sole-source contracts.
Acquisition
Supplemental bills would restrict award fees
Congress tries to toughen a 2007 law that set guidance on how to judge whether contractors' work is worth any extra money.
Acquisition
DOD IG spots conflict in regulations
The Federal Acquisition Regulation has conflicting rules for small-business contracting, according to DOD's inspector general.
Acquisition
IG finds conflict in the acquisition regulation
Officials question whether small-business set-asides should override giving all companies a chance to bid on a task or delivery order.
Acquisition
FCW Insider: The problem with publishing contractor performance data
Michael Lent, editor of Government Services Insider, questions the value of publishing contractor performance data publically available, given its dubious quality.
Acquisition
IG: Clearly define Alliant's scope
Auditors recommend putting more details in the Alliant ordering guide to cut down on the risk of repeating past problems.
Acquisition
FCW Insider: A Consumer Reports for contracting officials?
Some government contractors might address problems more quickly if negative performance reports were available to the public, a reader says.
Acquisition
FCW Insider: Should contractor performance data be public?
A reader wonders if the Obama administration’s transparency policy will include information on contractor performance scores.
Acquisition
IG fights MAS panel recommendation
A GSA official says IG staffers, who opposes dropping the price reduction clause, is attempting to derail any efforts to carry out the panel’s recommendations.
Acquisition
Officials: Recovery act rules are the future
The economic stimulus law has many rules for agencies and contractors to keep track of the money and requires more details about that money from them.
Acquisition