Digital Government
How procurement can help tackle the federal deficit
Procurement officials see more opportunity to help the government deal with the ballooning federal deficit, writes columnist Steve Kelman.
People
House shaves funding for Veterans Affairs IT projects
House appropriators plan to decrease funds for the Veterans Affairs Department’s information technology projects because of sluggish spending and project delays.
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.
Acquisition
NIH wins approval for third CIOSP contract
OMB officials have approved the governmentwide contract after recognizing agencies' new duties because of the major overhaul of the health-care system.
Acquisition
Existing procurements got bulk of Recovery Act contract dollars
Pressure to act quickly on high-priority projects drove agency officials toward existing contracts, GAO reported.
People
Insourcing thicket befuddles mandate-focused agencies
The Office of Management and Budget needs to provide guidance on insourcing efforts governmentwide, writes commentator Jaime Gracia.
People
A Web-based model for procurement contests
Blogger Steve Kelman believes drug company Eli Lilly has developed a sound approach to funding research and developments via online challenges.
Digital Government
How long will cloud's reality trail the hype?
True believers see it as the future. Detractors call for caution. But what do they both agree on?
Digital Government
Officials put temptation in front of small businesses
When a company can certify itself as a particular type of business entitled to preferential treatment, it is a temptation that is hard to resist, according to one member of Congress.
Cybersecurity
Intell chief denies charges of too many contractors
Reacting to a Washington Post series, the director of national intelligence said contractors are key but are not doing inherently governmental work.
People
Agencies defend charges of contracting fraud
Officials say the recently reported fraud that GAO uncovered in a small-business set-aside program comes from business owners and contracting officers not understanding the program rules, but at least one member of Congress rejects that explanation.
People
New commissioner crafting plan to re-energize FAS
The new commissioner will release a new strategy for revitalizing the Federal Acquisition Service and setting a new course.
People
House mulls increasing contractor oversight
The Federal Contracting Oversight and Reform Act seeks to repair an ineffective contracting system that award contracts to companies with histories of poor performance and misconduct.
People
It's official: Federal Acquisition Service has new commish
Steve Kempf is now the commissioner of the General Services Administration's Federal Acquisition Service, while Jon Jordan has been named deputy FAS commissioner.
People
How contests can improve government performance (and procurement)
Blogger Steve Kelman believes public contests are a great way to generate ideas to improve government operations and cut costs.
Acquisition
Executive, legislative branches' insourcing edicts send mixed messages
The White House and Congress are beaming decrees across the government about insourcing federal work, but the messages they're sending to agencies and departments are mixed.
Acquisition
SBA, IG disagree on sole-source awards
In awarding two sole-source contracts, IG says SBA officials defeated the purpose of the Recovery Act.
Acquisition
Alliant tops $1 billion in 14 months of business
The General Services Administration's Alliant governmentwide acquisition contract outpaces its predecessors, ANSWER and Millennia, in overall sales, according to sales figures.
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.
People