Acquisition
VA failed to set aside work for vets, GAO finds
A bid protest charged that VA officials didn’t comply with the law and regulations when awarding an emergency notification services contract.
Modernization
Tight budgets should not stall innovation, VanRoekel says
The public sector may have unique challenges but it could learn a thing or two from the industry.
People
Can DOD handle its business?
DOD has long been troubled by poor financial management, but 2012 could be the year it turns itself around.
Digital Government
FAA undermines its safety efforts with inadequate data, GAO says
The FAA is trying to improve its assessments of accidents and crashes, but a lack of good data is handicapping the effort.
People
Zients: Why streamlining government makes sense
Senior official at OMB lays out why reorganization authority is "common sense and good management."
Modernization
GAO sting operation exposes pervasive counterfeit parts problem
GAO finds it's all too easy to get fake electronics for military weapons systems.
Acquisition
GAO: Electronic waste guidance needs teeth
GSA guidelines don't carry the force of mandates, and GAO believes that the rules for electronic waste disposal needs the backing of an agency with enforcement powers.
Acquisition
GAO upholds protest of Justice ID management contract
The Justice Department did not properly evaluate pricing, past performance and organizational conflict of interest allegations in its award of a recent $844K contract, audit concludes.
Cybersecurity
FISMA continues to challenge
Ten years after it first passed, FISMA continues to frustrate agencies trying to comply with its requirements.
People
Charting the impact of OMB's temporary 2010 financial systems halt
The 2010 halt to 30 financial management projects affected agencies in various ways, detailed in a new report.
Acquisition
How OMB's guidance fails to prevent duplication at federal agencies
Efforts to prevent the proliferation of overlapping programs have fallen short.
Cybersecurity
Audit: Agencies still wasting billions with overlapping programs
GAO highlighted similar problems last year, and continues to find new examples.
Cybersecurity
GAO finds overlaps in IT investments within DOE and DOD
CIOs dispute some of the GAO's conclusions during a House hearing.
Acquisition
Veteran small-business bill would mandate use of fraud-prevention site
Under new legislation, agencies would have to search the Veterans Affairs Department’s VetBiz database before awarding a contract
Digital Government
Technology education funding includes overlaps, possible duplication
GAO found potential duplication when it recently audited the federal government's annual $3 billion investment in so-called 'STEM' education initiatives.
Acquisition
Gordon optimistic GAO will remove interagency contracting from high-risk list
Gordon has met with GAO to talk about how OMB has addressed the issues that put interagency contracting onto the high-risk list in the first place.
People
Managers, answer these questions before the Hill calls
GAO provides questions designed to check on a program's performance goals.
Acquisition
GAO challenges administration on contract savings
The Office of Management and Budget's estimated savings on contracting may be overstated, GAO says.
Modernization
Counterfeit electronics in supply chain put contractors on the hook
Counterfeit parts, mostly made in China, have found their way into the U.S. military's supply chain, and now members of the Senate Armed Services Committee want to hold contractors more accountable.
People