Acquisition
Kelman: 3 secrets to productivity
What federal agencies can do to create workplaces in which employees are motivated and effective.
Acquisition
Letter: Time to get real about brand name specs
A reader argues that it would be a mistake to prohibit the use of the "brand name or equal" provision in solicitations.
Acquisition
Use of brand names in solicitations still a problem
OMB reiterates for the second time in a month its prohibition on specifying vendors' products in solicitations.
Acquisition
DOT seeks applications to reduce accidents, gridlock
The department’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration is looking for partners for SafeTrip-21, which provides drivers with real-time safety warnings.
Acquisition
62 companies get spots on Alliant Small Business
The GWAC is worth about $15 billion over 10 years and offers management and technical support services.
Acquisition
Hot or not: Acquisition was a hot spot
Agencies built a foundation for improving workforce skills and contracting practices
Acquisition
Kelman: Too many contractors?
The government’s egalitarian pay structure helps explain some outsourcing decisions
Acquisition
Federal spending database defies doubters
The Office of Management and Budget unveils a system to track contracts, loans and grants governmentwide.
Acquisition
USAID to look for IT support
Early next year, the agency will issue an RFP for end-to-end information and communications technology support for two of its components.
Acquisition
OFPP: Half of contracts must be performance-based in '08
The Office of Federal Procurement Policy increased the goal from 45 percent "to continue to motivate agencies," according to a memo from Administrator Paul Denett.
Acquisition
Letter: Know what you're buying beforehand
NASA buys through original equipment manufacturers and then suggests a source, such as a distributor or GSA, to the procurement team.
Acquisition
Letter: OFPP must punish restrictive procurements
In "brand-name or equal" requirements, the ultimate guilty party is the end user or client originating the request for a purchase.
Acquisition
Letter: Don't axe draft RFPs
The quality of proposals rises and protests decline when draft requests for proposals are issues.
Acquisition
Letter: Special contracting treatment hurts Alaska Native firms
Allowing noncompetitive awards to certain classes of contractors should be limited to the same requirements as other 8(a) companies.
Acquisition
Letter: Brand name justifications must hold water
All requests for proposals that specify brand name products should be carefully vetted.
Acquisition
OFPP: Watch use of brand names in proposals
Agencies are failing to specify why a brand is necessary, which can limit competition, according to a memo from Paul Denett.
Acquisition