Acquisition

Wartime contracting panel needs broader view, group says

Criticism of wartime contracting reform comes as officials seek lessons from nongovernmental organizations on their contingency operations.

Acquisition

Obama ties funding to declining debt in proposal

President Obama has proposed across-the-board spending cuts tied to the debt, but left unclear the impacts on IT, workforce and other programs.

Acquisition

Costs jumped on VA's Wi-Fi contract, IG says

The Veterans Affairs Department rushed through procuring Wi-Fi at 236 VA facilities, according to a new report from the Office of Inspector General.

Acquisition

How to make reverse auctions even better

Steve Kelman advises FedBid on how to enhance the value of its reverse auction service.

Acquisition

Bill would put job creation pressure on contractors

A group of House members wants companies to estimate the number of jobs they would create when they win a new contract.

Acquisition

How to add more zip to the regulatory process

When it comes to approving regulations, bureaucracy is not a bad thing, but it could be better, acquisition experts say.

Acquisition

GSA to change Alliant past-performance review policy

The General Services Administration hasn't reviewed contractors' performances on work done through the agency's major IT governmentwide contract, as required and they had planned, IG says.

Acquisition

SBA starts contracting program for women

Contracting officers can now set aside contracts for woman-owned small businesses, under an interim rule issued today to amend regulations.

Acquisition

Spread this around: Fresh ideas from the front lines of contracting

Steve Kelman and a group of contracting official present a number of ideas that could be used elsewhere in the government.

Acquisition

DOD's contractor database could lead to the wrong results

The Defense Department's past-performance database sometimes is not a reliable guide to which contractors are best prepared to handle a job, a wartime commission has found.

Acquisition

Share-in-savings contracting coming back?

Blogger Steve Kelman says the current budget environment gives agencies all the more reason to consider share-in-savings procurements.

Acquisition

Officials change tone on insourcing

Officials say they never intended for massive insourcing, and the administration has not let it happen.

Acquisition

New rules change procurement process

New procurement rules put limitations on cost-reimbursement, multiple-award and 8(a) contracts.

Acquisition

Too much training still leaves interns inexperienced

Managers are dealing with highly certified employees who still need supervision and intervention from more experienced contracting officers, officials say.

Acquisition

Procurement oversight: A case of friendly fire?

A well-meaning lawmaker might be reading too much into government-industry interactions, writes blogger John Klossner.

Acquisition

Government should adopt instant feedback features

Columnist Steve Kelman suggests that the government should implement technology to allow quick and easy feedback.

Acquisition

SBA changes anti-suspension, debarment culture, IG says

Some SBA officials believe enforcement foils their agency's mission.

Acquisition

OFPP's Gordon shy about opening meeting results

Experts want more information from the meetings assessing agencies' oversight to protect the government from abusive contractors.