Cybersecurity
After the spending bill: What now?
What will happen to the new insourcing policies, proposed federal pay freeze and agency IT budgets, now that the Senate omnibus funding bill has been withdrawn?
Acquisition
Senate has insourcing provision in spending bill
A major spending bill in the Senate would require agency officials to show their attempts to first convert jobs from contractors to federal employees before having the public and private sectors compete for the work.
People
Senate passes bill giving boost to Federal Acquisition Institute
Upgrading the institute and making sure it has enough money will ultimately lead to more effective oversight of government contracting, the measure's backers say.
People
Sold to the lowest bidder: Reverse auctions play cost-savings role for agencies
Interest grows in reverse auctions as agencies look for efficiency and cost savings.
Digital Government
DOD blacklist authority could go too far, say small-biz advocates
Small-business groups say the 2011 Defense Authorization bill would allow DOD officials to secretly blacklist contractors and bar them from doing any business with the federal government.
People
Why OMB’s IT reform plan just might work
Blogger Steve Kelman finds a lot to like in OMB’s new IT reform report.
People
Reviews are mixed for early agile efforts
The government's early agile efforts are well intentioned but miss the mark, reviewers say.
Acquisition
The reinvention of insourcing
Experts say the program faces an uncertain future in 2011.
People
Can grand design be driven to extinction?
The administration's plan to hasten the end of giant, trouble-plagued IT projects depends on achieving two objectives.
People
OFPP head urges acquisition leaders to lose fear of rules
Dan Gordon wants officials to be innovative in their approach to purchasing and bring contractors closer into the procurement process to get better results.
People
Agencies: Don't fear talks with contractors
Dan Gordon, top procurement policy official, is taking a myth-busting campaign to allay the fear of government-industry discussions and reassure federal workers that it's OK to talk.
People
Industry says ambitious White House IT reform plan is doable
Industry members are praising the Obama administration's 25-step implementation plan for IT management reform, saying that many of its action items align with popular commercial practices.
Acquisition
Better requirements -- at the task-order level
Agencies will do a better job of getting what they need to meet their requirements if they define those requirements in task orders, rather than trying to map out everything in the initial RFP, suggests Steve Kelman.
People
5 top management priorities for 2011
Columnist Steve Kelman identifies the Obama administration's best options for improving the management of government programs and operations.
People
Bill seeks to protect against counterfeit IT
Defense Department officials worry that globalization of the IT industry increases its vulnerability to malicious or counterfeit IT systems.
Acquisition
Buying fast, buying better
Acuqisition professionals should strive for accuracy, but not at the expense of speed, writes Steve Kelman.
People
NASA moves too slow on projects, GAO says
The slow pace of innovation and acquisition at NASA is unsustainable and hinders the agency's mission, according to a Government Accountability Office report issued earlier this week.
People
Contractor IDs: A lesson from Harry Potter
FCW cartoonist and blogger John Klossner has a solution for feds concerned about identifying who's a fed and who's a contractor.
People
Issa sets tone for Government Reform Committee
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) said he plans to examine government operations and find ways to improve them.
People