People

Panel finds contracting disarray

Army needs leadership and training to reduce contracting fraud and abuse

People

House passes $460B defense spending bill

After less than 10 minutes of debate, the House approved the legislation, which includes a resolution to keep funding the government through Dec. 14.

People

Senate passes contracting oversight bill

The legislation calls for agencies to appoint an associate administrator for workforce programs and to set up internship programs for acquisition employees.

People

GSA lashes back at DOD IG

GSA officials take issue with a report that states the Air Force wasted $607,000 by using GSA's assisted-acquisition services.

People

Denett: IGs are 'aggravating,' and overstep boundaries

Inspectors general have taken over the role of program manager, the OFPP administrator says.

Acquisition

Continuing resolution causes poor contracting, Denett says

“You don’t get effective contracting if you get the money at the last minute,” the administrator of OFPP said.

Digital Government

Congress lines up another continuing resolution

The language, included a defense appropriations conference report, will fund government operations at fiscal 2007 levels through Dec. 14.

Acquisition

SBA plans to keep pressure on agencies

The agency believes it has the leverage it needs to push agencies to meet their small-business contracting goals.

People

IG: DOD wasted money by placing orders with GSA

The department turned to GSA for help in placing orders under an Air Force contract, but the IG said officials should have sought assistance from DOD procurement officers.

Digital Government

SBA stumbles on e-mail privacy

Agency addresses a policy loophole that posed a threat to whistle-blowers

People

IRS pushes ahead with modernization despite funding limits

Although a continuing resolution is set to expire Nov. 16, an IRS official said Congress likely will extend it and the agency can't wait to move forward.

People

OFPP redefines acquisition workforce -- again

The office will issue a memo on certification requirements for contracting officers' technical representatives.

Acquisition

Legislation: Give service-disabled business owners priority

The House passed a bill that would also help women business owners secure government contracts.

Digital Government

IG: GSA contractors get system access before background checks

Such security lapses have compromised confidential agency information, according to a new report.

Acquisition

Congress looks for price fix

Lawmakers want to curb use of time-and-materials contracts by Defense Department.

People

SBA drafts policy on authorizing access to employee e-mail

The agency's CIO told senior managers to halt e-mail retrievals without prior approval from the CIO's office.

Acquisition

Web extra: Waxman on competition in federal contracting

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, talked about the state of competition in federal contracting in an e-mail interview with Federal Computer Week reporter Matthew Weigelt.FCW: Describe the state of competition in contracting today. Are you concerned?Waxman: I am very concerned about the state of competition in contracting today. Full and open competition has declined sharply under the Bush administration. Between 2000 and 2006, the dollar value of…

Acquisition

Speedy interagency contracts face possible new restrictions

Proposed acquisition rules could make interagency contracts less attractive

People

Feds seek the art of negotiation

Policy-makers now have data to use in addressing acquisition workforce gaps

People

The competition question

Procurement changes recommended by Marcia Madsen’s panel seek to open the government market and increase competition