Digital Government
GAO bows to CIA decision to waive conflicts of interest
GAO’s ruling is evidence that it won’t second-guess agency officials' decisions to waive organizational conflicts of interest.
Digital Government
State, local education agencies flunk stimulus law transparency tests
GAO found only 9 percent of the spending descriptions fully met the law's transparency criteria, such as for clear and complete information.
Acquisition
Despite more competition, single-bid contracts stay steady
Noncompetitive contracts declined from fiscal 2005 to fiscal 2009, but contracts receiving only one bid remained steady, GAO says.
Cybersecurity
Government, industry fall short in sharing cyber threat data
Government and industry need to do a better job of sharing information about cybersecurity threats to U.S. critical infrastructure, according to the Government Accountability Office.
Modernization
The rush is on to approve applications for broadband funds
The Agriculture and Commerce departments are rushing to review and approve $4.2 billion in stimulus law funding for broadband by Sept. 30, a report says.
Modernization
GAO's Web site goes mobile
The Government Accountability Office has started a new mobile version of its Web site to make its work more available on BlackBerrys and iPhones.
Digital Government
GAO hands down decision on Unisys bid protest
Decision by GAO clears the way for CSC to finally begin work on the $500 million TSA infrastructure contract.
Acquisition
States leave stimulus law data unclear
States varied in many aspects of using contracting data, including what type of data they routinely collected on contracts awarded for projects funded by stimulus law money, a report states.
Digital Government
Nearly all major federal agencies use social media, GAO says
Federal agencies have jumped into social media, but are still wrestling with numerous problems, a GAO official told a House subcommittee today.
Modernization
Data errors: OMB's online IT dashboard doesn't compute
The Government Accountability Office found outdated data and other inaccuracies in its evaluation of the Office of Management and Budget's online IT dashboard.
Modernization
GAO incorporates new technologies into strategic plan
Advances in technology and the wide-ranging effects of networks and virtualization will influence federal programs during the next five years, the Government Accountability Office reported.
Cybersecurity
Most major DHS acquisitions are over budget, behind schedule: GAO
Audit by the Government Accountability Office finds that 12 of 15 large procurements at the Homeland Security Department suffer from cost overruns, planning obstacles that include staffing shortages and lack of sustainment planning, as well as execution challenges related to technical capability and dependence on contractor partners.
Digital Government
VA patient scheduling app still not ready for prime time
The Veterans Affairs Department's second attempt to build an outpatient scheduling system may not get off the ground unless significant management deficiencies are corrected, according to the Government Accountability Office.
Modernization
Electronic Records Archives needs more oversight, auditors say
The Government Accountability Office says NARA needs to take steps to ensure completion of its Electronic Records Archives system by 2012.
Acquisition
Governmentwide contracting: In praise of duplication and overlap
Blogger Steve Kelman writes that the problem of having different prices for the same item across various contracts is better than having just one bad price everywhere.
Acquisition
Total number of interagency/enterprisewide contracts is anyone's guess
Federal agencies spend about $60 billion a year on interagency and enterprisewide contracts, but there is limited evidence that they are being effectively used and managed, according to the Government Accountability Office.
Digital Government
GAO finds $325M awarded to ineligible firms under SBA program
The Government Accountability Office found numerous cases of fraud while investigating 14 firms that falsely received federal contracts under the pretext of being small and disadvantaged businesses.
Acquisition
GAO: Acquisition workforce plans need better definition of workforce
Federal procurement policy officials took a step toward building up the federal acquisition workforce through agencies’ development plans, although the plans have their faults, according to a new report.
Modernization
VA fiduciary management system is inadequate, GAO says
The Veterans Affairs Department's case management system for overseeing fiduciaries for 103,000 disabled veterans is not up to the job, the GAO says.
Cybersecurity