Author Archive

Nick Wakeman

Editor-in-Chief, Washington Technology

Nick Wakeman
Nick Wakeman is the editor-in-chief of Washington Technology and joined the publication in 1996 as a staff writer. He's a graduate of Bridgewater College and earned a masters degree from American University. When he isn't writing about government contractors, he's thinking of cooking large pieces of meat over fire and dreaming of ways to embarrass his two sons. Follow him on Twitter: @nick_wakeman
Acquisition

Pentagon hits Accenture, Booz Allen and Deloitte with contract cancellations

The trio are the only named contractors in a group of cuts announced by Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth, who claims $5.1 billion of cancelled contracts with $4 billion in savings.

Acquisition

Plan for sweeping FAR changes nears release

The General Services Administration, NASA and Office of Federal Procurement Policy are working to create a leaner acquisition framework that could attract more companies to the market.

People

DOGE guts HHS small business office in reorg effort

Only the OSDBU executive director remains to advocate for small businesses at the Department of Health and Human Services, which obligated $39 billion in contracts last year.

People

Industry layoffs mount as cancelled contracts and DOGE efforts take hold

Just shy of 2,500 workers in Maryland and Virginia are poised to lose their jobs as 13 companies issue mass layoff notice.

Acquisition

Billions are on the line as DOGE, GSA increase scrutiny

A new analysis by TechnoMile looks at how exposed the General Services Administration's top 10 consulting firms could be, based on unexercised contract ceiling across three major spending categories.

Ideas

FAR overhaul: The challenges in tackling federal procurement’s 5,000-page beast

The General Services Administration's acting leader outlines a blueprint for how the Trump administration wants to streamline regulations, a move aimed at opening the market to more competition and "best-in-class" companies.

Acquisition

GSA tightens enforcement of minimum sales requirements for schedule holders

Trump Administration and DOGE revive revenue thresholds to cut administrative costs and remove poor performing schedule holders.

Acquisition

Google eyes security growth in planned $32B Wiz acquisition

The global tech giant undertakes its largest-ever purchase as cloud and artificial intelligence threats evolve.

Acquisition

Trump’s ‘pincer maneuver’ reshapes federal contracting landscape

Contractors are under more pressure than before to justify value and embrace innovation as the DOGE seeks radical efficiencies through cuts and process reforms.

Acquisition

VA targets 585 ‘non-mission critical’ contracts for elimination

The Veterans Affairs Department claims $900 million in savings and that the cuts will not impact health care, benefits or services.

People

Virginia governor pressed to support federal workers and contractors

Fairfax County's board of supervisors chairman says the Trump administration's proposed workforce reductions threaten Virginia's economy and wants Gov. Youngkin to take action.

Acquisition

DEI programs vanish across the GovCon landscape

Contractors are dropping diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as they review the risks of being seen as not compliant with the Trump executive order.

Digital Government

Musk's role as ‘special government employee’ raises ethics questions

The SpaceX founder and CEO's moves across federal agencies break with tradition and could result in legal action.

Acquisition

GSA procurement pause sparks confusion

A new memo halts all General Services Administration-funded contract awards, a move that raises questions about scope and legality as industry leaders look for clarity.

Acquisition

Contractors face greater scrutiny from anti-DEI executive orders

President Trump’s actions come with enforcement provisions that encourage employees to report on their companies.

Artificial Intelligence

Accenture Federal’s new CEO eyes AI-driven transformation during Trump 2.0

Ron Ash sees agencies as having opportunities ahead to modernize legacy systems and improve efficiency by harnessing the power of new tools like agentic artificial intelligence.

Acquisition

Groundswell's legal fight for $1B Army ERP contract moves to records access

Groundswell wants a former SAP executive to look at competition documents, but the winner Accenture Federal Services is pushing back.

Acquisition

Groundswell claims the Army wanted Accenture to win the $1B EBS-C competition

The company's lawsuit alleges the evaluation process was changed midstream to favor Accenture for the contract to consolidate several Army business and logistics systems.

Acquisition

Industry execs weigh potential impacts of presidential transition

A group of senior leaders at government contractors outline the challenges and opportunities they see in a second Trump term.

Acquisition

The knowns and unknowns of a second Trump administration

Some priorities such as cyber and artificial intelligence are likely not changing, but we will watch the transition for what else might impact government contractors.