Acquisition

GSA's Williams counters IG charge of lost savings

Williams said GSA has no evidence of a widespread problem of vendors submitting incorrect invoices.

Acquisition

OMB falls short on USASpending.gov data, GAO says

OMB has not included subcontracting award data on USAspending.gov and has no specific plan for collecting such data.

Acquisition

OFPP administrator attempts to draw clear lines

Gordon wants to make sure agencies will have no questions about what work should and should not be done by contractors.

People

How to waste time and talent through acquisition training

Readers respond to blogger Steve Kelman's suggestion that the federal government take a hard look at the content of its acquisition training programs.

People

Panel says DOD needs 'significant improvement' in managing the acquisition process

DOD's antiquated acquisition system and policies present major problems in fulfilling mission needs and contribute to government cost overruns.

Acquisition

VA seeks vendor to automate Agent Orange claims processing

The Veterans Affairs Department wants to hire a contractor by the end of April that can automate processing Agent Orange claims by September.

Acquisition

Procurement panel slams price reduction clause for services

The Multiple Award Schedule Advisory Panel offers 20 recommendations on how to improve GSA Schedules program.

Cybersecurity

Customs at odds with DHS IG over report on small-biz goals

Officials at Customs and Border Protection say a draft report by the inspector general contains 'misstatements of fact and inaccuracies that are misleading.'

Acquisition

Federal court gives HUBZone program priority

The Small Business Act makes it mandatory, not optional, to give HUBZone companies a preference over other small businesses, a judge rules.

Digital Government

Air Force's retro acquisition strategy comes with a price

The latest twist in the Air Force tanker program is the product of a dysfunctional procurement system, writes blogger Steve Kelman.

Acquisition

GSA promotes veteran leader to acting deputy CAO

GSA's acting deputy chief acquisition officer has 33 years of experience at the agency, including 14 years' work at the acquisition policy office.

Acquisition

Tony Costa named GSA associate administrator

Costa will find areas where GSA can compile a package of agencywide services to offer its clients.

Cybersecurity

Are DHS contractors running amok?

Two heavyweights from the Senate want to know who is running the shop at the Homeland Security Department. And whoever it is, the department's inspector general would like to speak with them.

Acquisition

Note to DOD IG: "Assisted acquisition" does mean "provide help"

DOD IG guidance moves GSA's Office of Assisted Services in the wrong direction, subtracting rather than adding value for their government customers.

Acquisition

GSA administrator Johnson to speak at FOSE

Johnson, GSA's new administrator, will speak at 11 a.m. March 25 at the Washington Convention Center.

Cybersecurity

DHS awarded noncompetitive contracts without having adequate records, IG says

The Homeland Security Department's Inspector General found gaps and missing data when he searched records on contracts awarded without open competition.

Acquisition

GSA's Drabkin heads to Northrop Grumman

David Drabkin will be Northrop Grumman's director for acquisition policy.

Acquisition

SBA proposed rule directs set-aside contracts to women-owned firms

A proposed rule is designed to help agencies award 5 percent of federal contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses.

Digital Government

DOD's reliance on commercial satellites hits new zenith

The military's ad hoc reliance on commercial satellites is prolonging efforts to meet warfighters' urgent demands for bandwidth.

Acquisition

Will contracting savings plans translate into budget cuts?

Blogger Steve Kelman believes that OMB should avoid inadvertently penalizing agencies that come up with aggressive plans for saving contracting dollars.