Digital Government

Government breaks small-business goals with stimulus funds

As of Oct. 2, the government overall has awarded 26 percent of the economic stimulus law's funds to contracts for small businesses, an estimated $4 billion.

People

White House announces Gordon nomination for OFPP job

Gordon has a reputation for candor and evenhandedness, according to procurement observers and his public record.

People

Likely OFPP nominee has history of standing firm

The White House has not formally announced Daniel Gordon’s nomination for the OFPP administrator job, but administration officials have faced Gordon already.

Acquisition

A sneak peek at likely OFPP administrator nominee's point of view

Daniel Gordon, the apparent choice for OFPP administrator, has revealed his likely approach and philosophy on procurement issues through his public statements.

People

State struggles to track contractor data: GAO

The data contractor personnel tracking system's information is so poor that GAO said it couldn't draw conclusions or recognize trends about contractor personnel numbers.

Acquisition

Senators weigh in on GSA contract award

Some senators have raised concerns about persistent problems with the quality of federal contracting data.

People

GSA and partners say: Put the 2.0 into Acquisition 101

The project's organizers want ideas on using collaboration and social media to make the federal acquisition process more transparent and participatory.

People

6 core capabilities that acquisition workers need

Any plans to insource must include efforts to rebuild the acquisition workforce, writes Peter Tuttle.

Modernization

IT consolidation will improve services, Kundra says

GSA aims for better data quality but also has some problems with integrating eight databases into a single platform.

Digital Government

NASA to update schedule for coming IT acquisitions

NASA soon will release a new schedule for opening competition on five information technology services contracts estimated to be worth a total of more than $4 billion.

Modernization

When custom software was king

Custom technology used to be the only option for government agencies, but now commercial products address most needs, experts say.

People

GAO lawyer to be Obama's pick for top procurement office

The White House has settled on the acting general counsel at the Government Accountability Office to run the Office of Federal Procurement Policy.

Acquisition

GAO finds DOD contractors have made progress on ethics

Some Defense Department contractors and DOD itself have made progress with ethics programs, but improvements are still needed, GAO reports.

People

Hurry up and wait

Government is always trying to play catch-up with technology. And Apps.gov's foray into cloud computing is no different.

Acquisition

Contractors dodge ACORN scandal for now

The broad language of a House-approved bill to defund ACORN could have taken money away from some government contractors but the passage of the appropriations continuing resolution seems to have quieted those fears.

People

Agency insourcing plans make industry nervous

Although industry hears the rumblings of insourcing, experts say agencies aren't arriving at the potential savings with a full perspective of the government's costs.

Cybersecurity

DHS considers new structure for EAGLE II

The Homeland Security Department is considering getting rid of all functional categories and allowing broad competition for the possible EAGLE II-Unrestricted acquisition vehicle.

People

Baseball and acquisition have a lot in common, for better or worse

Intensified oversight undermines support for procurement staff, writes columnist Bill Gormley.

People

Is Transparency Killing Partnership?

Two gatherings last week prompted similar disturbing questions about the current state of relations between government and industry.

Acquisition

Maximum benefit

The idea that the operations of government should be driven by the same motive as private enterprise is fallacious on the face of it, but that’s not to say that government agencies should not run more efficiently.