People

Performance management challenge: It's the (fiscal) environment, stupid.

Do agencies have too much to deal with already to do justice to OMB's latest performance management revisions?

People

Is Tangherlini getting traction or spinning his wheels?

The acting GSA administrator has been applauded for his aggressive review of agency spending. But can he bring lasting change?

Acquisition

How a few words could change small-business set-aside picture

The Obama administration is trying to change some wording in the acquisition rules make it easier to set aside R&D solicitations.

Acquisition

Lack of clearance reciprocity costs millions, survey shows

Contractors say they could fulfill their duties more efficiently and save the government money if security clearances were accepted more broadly.

Modernization

GSA's proposed cloud brokerage grabs industry attention

There have been so many responses to a recent RFI that GSA has extended the deadline to allow for more, agency says.

Acquisition

Will less federal spending really mean fewer jobs?

Conventional wisdom holds that federal budget cuts lead to less spending on contracts and, therefore, to job declines. Is that really true?

People

GSA sees air travel savings in new City Pair arrangement

Agency's purchasing strategies have lowered prices and allowed the government more flexibility when employees book flights, as work begins on the second iteration of GSA's electronic air travel management system.

Acquisition

Study quantifies coming cuts in federal IT spending

As inevitable budget cuts come nearer, market research firm attempts to predict just where spending will fall the most.

Digital Government

GSA's SAM may not yet be fixed

Although GSA said its new System for Award Management system is ready, users were still experiencing trouble.

People

Issa demands IGs keep reform committee informed

Frustrated by learning of IG investigations late in the game, Rep. Darrell Issa tells agency auditors to move more quickly in keeping Congressional overseers informed.

People

GSA says integrated acquisition site is fixed

System for Award Management is back online.

People

DOD, State, USAID say 'enough' to wartime contracting reforms

Three agencies have implemented some of the recommendations of the Wartime Contracting Commission, but now say they don't want to do more. Some senators are considering making it mandatory.

People

Technology offers no silver bullet

Technology implemented without rethinking processes won't solve much, writes consultant Jaime Gracia.

Acquisition

GSA's new award-management system offline right after launch

Taken down because of performance issues, GSA's new SAM site is scheduled to be back Aug. 6.

Acquisition

House passes government charge card rules

House lawmakers made some changes to a Senate bill that puts more controls on the use of government charge cards.

Acquisition

Should VA's company database go governmentwide?

VA has a database of verified companies owned by veterans. Other agencies could take advantage of that resource, GAO says.

People

Congressman: GSA officials absent from hearing 'have ducked'

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee expects to have GSA testifying about its spending choices, but the invited officials are not saying no.

Modernization

Networx transition deemed nearly complete

Almost 99 percent of services have moved to the Networx program, according to a GSA official.

Acquisition

House considers purchase card oversight bill

Lawmakers want more record-keeping rules on the federal employees who have government credit cards.

People

Agencies weak on estimating IT costs, GAO finds

Ineffective policies on gathering cost information boost the chances of overspending, missed deadlines and performance problems, GAO finds.