Acquisition

GSA disaster recovery program gains momentum

Companies reported their highest quarterly sales increases from July to September 2009.

Acquisition

GAO officials offer acquisition reform basics

The Government Accountability Office has some advice for federal agencies about selecting contract types to protect the government's interests.

Acquisition

President orders clampdown on tax-delinquent contractors

The presidential memo directs federal officials and Congress to improve information sharing in order to block delinquent companies from receiving new awards.

Acquisition

House bill would punish users of front companies

A new bill in the House would penalize people who set up a company as a front to another business to get a government contract.

Acquisition

DOD gets ball rolling on insourcing

To save money and reduce the influence of defense contractors, Congress has handed the Defense Department $5 billion and a mandate to insource inherently governmental jobs.

Acquisition

Workforce balance boomerangs toward insourcing

The Obama administration has set in motion a set of guidelines and initiatives that figure to undo many Bush administration outsourcing efforts. But OMB officials want agencies to insource jobs based on strategic plans, not just to fulfill administration ideals.

Acquisition

GSA veteran Kempf becomes deputy FAS commissioner

Steve Kempf's 18 years in the Federal Acquisition Service give him the experience with and understanding of the program's customers, GSA officials say.

Acquisition

Procurement reform fever to die down in 2010

The contracting memo influenced much of the procurement policy guidance in 2009, but experts say its effects will be subtle this year.

Acquisition

GSA chief of staff Germain steps aside

Danielle Germain, chief of staff at the General Services Administration since June, is leaving due to the time it's taken to get a permanent administrator in place.

Acquisition

Senate bill would expand access to GSA schedules for states

States and local governments may get access to the General Services Administration’s schedules program so they can get ready for an oncoming disaster, according to a new bill.

Acquisition

GSA awards SmartBUY contracts for geospatial tools

A new purchase award through the GSA’s SmartBUY program will give federal, state and local government agencies access to a suite of geospatial software tools.

Acquisition

Agencies spending stimulus bucks through no-bid contracts, GAO finds

SBA, HUD and NASA awarded 35 percent or more of their stimulus law contracts noncompetitively, according to a new GAO report.

Acquisition

GAO ruling draws line on small-biz set-asides

The ruling eases the burden on certain types of small firms awarded work under contracts in which they were given "preference."

Acquisition

Gordon confirmed as OFPP chief

Gordon will be one of the key players in Obama’s plan to reform government contracting.

Acquisition

DOD to scrutinize contractors' support services

DOD will revise how its managers review contractors’ services that support work that is set aside for only government employees to perform.

Acquisition

Bill would jail crooks who wrongly get set-aside contracts

The House bill would also require establishing a database of businesses owned by service-disabled veterans and develop criteria to enter the program.

Acquisition

Fake firms rip off SBA set-aside program for $100M

Agencies that award contracts to service-disabled veterans don’t check on whether a company is eligible for the special set-aside and millions are lost, GAO official says.

Acquisition

Gordon gets Senate panel's nod for OFPP

Senate Governmental Affairs Committee chairman seems confident about Daniel Gordon getting the Senate’s approval to the the administator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy.

Acquisition

A new way to assess contractors

The Obama administration is giving agencies a new, standardized way to assess contractors’ work on award-fee or cost-reimbursement contracts.

Acquisition

Gordon reiterates Obama's push for transparency

The clock is ticking while the Senate considers Daniel Gordon, President Barack Obama's nominee to be administrator for the Office of Federal Procurement Policy. While Obama took several months to choose Gordon and the confirmation process is still ongoing, the administration has been dealing with a range of acquisition challenges and reform efforts.