Acquisition
Contract considerations to include treatment of other companies
The Obama administration wants procurement officials to consider how companies treat their business partners as a factor in making contract decisions.
Acquisition
Mis-measuring Networx progress
Some say the General Services Administration has the wrong number when it comes to assessing agencies’ speed in moving to the Networx telecom program.
Acquisition
GSA hopes OASIS dries up duplication
Some changes to contracting could save the government a substantial amount of money -- if GSA is right about the potential of a planned new set of contracts called OASIS.
Acquisition
Reverse auction house names new senior officer
FedBid names new officer to leads its efforts in its expanding marketplace.
Acquisition
How to think about new policy proposals – feedback on my feedback
Steve Kelman responds to criticism with some ideas on the most productive ways to think about policy proposals.
Acquisition
Was the GSA scandal really scandalous?
Columnist Steve Kelman wonders whether agencies might be justified in spending money on lavish conferences.
Acquisition
How to make acquisition part of the solution
New OFPP Administrator Joe Jordan talks about making the most of the government's buying power and how to provide cutting-edge solutions for agencies while still maintaining oversight.
Acquisition
For DOD, trust may be the key to cost savings
Unraveling a bureaucracy built on suspicion could be part of the cure for DOD's ills, study suggests.
Acquisition
Leveraging buying power: A lesson from the private sector
A purchasing group in a family of companies shows the government how it's done.
Acquisition
Agencies told to ensure subcontractors get prompt payments
OMB is asking agencies to report on their progress at speeding up payments.
Acquisition
Prompt payments may become contract selection factor
The Obama administration uses federal contracts to get money to small subcontractors faster.
Acquisition
Suspension, debarment could turn more punitive under proposal
The FAR says that suspension and debarment are to be used only to protect the government, but the Labor Department is considering using them to penalize companies for disregarding Labor rules.
Acquisition
8 best bets for contractors to survive sequestration
As sequestration looms on the horizon, here are some ways government contractors can best prepare.
Acquisition
A new way to use past performance in contracting
Steve Kelman offers an innovation for past-performance data.
Acquisition
New rule could force inexperienced contractors onto agency projects
A proposed rule change intended to protect private-sector jobs could affect agency work, group fears.
Acquisition
Agencies fail, again, to meet small-business contracting goals
Small businesses received $91.5 billion in prime contracts last year, falling short of the percentage supposed to go to them.
Acquisition
How to make a win/win for agencies and small business
The new OFPP has an opportunity to improve small-business contracting and help agencies meet their missions at the same time, writes Steve Kelman.
Acquisition
Meeting Joe Jordan
The new OFPP administrator has "a Boy Scoutish enthusiasm for trying to improve things," Steve Kelman writes.
Acquisition
Small firms 'stiffed' on subcontracts, survey says
The fault though can lie with both the prime contractor and the agency, if there is a fault at all.
Acquisition