Acquisition

What’s next for CMMC

After the Defense Department revamped cybersecurity standards for contractors, the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program’s accreditation body is making adjustments.

Acquisition

White House instructs agencies on contracting equity goals

The Biden administration detailed policy pivots needed to fulfill a commitment to steer $100 billion in federal contracting opportunities to small disadvantaged businesses over the next five years.

Acquisition

Trade group warns of contractor workforce shortfall over vaccine mandate

A Professional Services Council (PSC) committee has forecasted potential workforce issues and billions of dollars in lost IT spend as the White House battles legal challenges to enforce a vaccine mandate for federal contractors.

Acquisition

Biden taps former USAF buyer to lead DOD acquisition

The White House has nominated former Air Force acquisition chief William LaPlante to be the Pentagon’s top buyer.

Acquisition

New rule puts $15 minimum wage for federal contractors in place next year

Employees working on federal contracts will have a $15 minimum wage starting on Jan. 30, 2022, per a new rule issued by the Labor Department on Monday.

Acquisition

Analysis: Are better debriefings driving down protests?

Beginning 2018, the Defense Department started conducting what are called "enhanced" debriefings that allow for more dialogue with companies after they've lost a contract. That means unsuccessful bidders get more information on where their bid fell short without filing a protest.

Acquisition

IT controls still a pain point, DOD audit finds

The Defense Department failed to get a clean opinion in its fourth annual financial audit, highlighting ongoing struggles to accurately account for IT systems.

Acquisition

Speed bumps for VA's new scheduling system

A watchdog report identified gaps in training and oversight for the new scheduling system being implemented at VA medical facilities.

Acquisition

Who's going to volunteer for the new CMMC?

The Defense Department is looking for contractors to test out its revamped cybersecurity standard to protect unclassified but sensitive data.

Acquisition

Funding challenges hamper cyber EO compliance, CIOs say

A group of agency CIOs shared their biggest obstacles in meeting a series of aggressive deadlines and modernization goals of the Biden administration's sweeping cybersecurity executive order.

Acquisition

Labor Department rolls back Trump-era religious exemption for contractors

DOL announced it would undo a rule that was criticized by civil rights activists as easing the ability of some federal contractors to discriminate when making hiring decisions.