Acquisition

SBA looks to promote disadvantaged businesses with 2023 budget request

The head of the Small Business Administration told lawmakers the agency is planning to ramp up outreach efforts for small disadvantaged businesses and other firms in need of support to address a 40% decline in small businesses working with the federal government.

Acquisition

Pentagon still not taking full advantage of rapid acquisition authorities, former official says

Ellen Lord, the former undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment during the Trump administration, told senators "strong leadership" was needed to fully embrace rapid acquisitions policies.

Acquisition

NSA re-awards secret $10 Billion contract to Amazon

Amazon Web Services beat out Microsoft for the contract after a bid protest battle.

Acquisition

Bernie Sanders wants Amazon debarred from federal contracting

The Vermont lawmaker cites the company's anti-union activity in a letter urging President Biden to eliminate the e-commerce and cloud behemoth from federal contracts.

Acquisition

GSA launches new tool to simplify the federal buying process

Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Sonny Hashmi said the new buyer experience tool "was built using human-centered design to address pain points in the acquisition process."

Acquisition

Federal procurement featured in new equity action plans

Improving access to federal contracting vehicles and supporting small, disadvantaged businesses are key parts in the equity action plans released by agencies on April 14.

Acquisition

GSA aims for greener IT contracts by adding sustainability criteria

The General Service Administration’s new contracting language is one tool for the agency to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.  

Acquisition

What federal acquisition personnel can do right now to support sustainability

Federal officials and government purchasing experts showed off tools and resources to help make federal procurement and acquisitions more sustainable and energy efficient.

Acquisition

Federal contractors could soon have to disentangle themselves completely from Russia 

A top House oversight Democrat says her bill limiting contracts with companies operating in Russia during the Ukraine war would supplement existing sanctions. 

Acquisition

GSA to slow down process for Polaris IT vehicle

The agency will spend the time reviewing feedback on how joint ventures can bid.

Acquisition

GSA to launch new BPA focusing on cloud technologies

The General Services Administration will roll out a new blanket purchase agreement to provide federal agencies with commercial cloud offerings as it seeks to reduce burden on government buyers – and administration costs for providers.

Acquisition

NSC official calls for federal office to oversee commercial supply chains

A NSC official expressed support for a provision in the $52 billion America COMPETES Act that would establish a federal office dedicated to monitoring domestic and international commercial supply chains.

Acquisition

Google surveys feds in fight with Microsoft for government market

The survey report tried to associate heavy reliance on Microsoft’s products with greater susceptibility to cyberattacks.

Acquisition

Cyber Command’s acquisition growing pains

A Government Accountability Office report found that while CyberCom has matured its Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture, it doesn’t yet have the metrics needed to justify investments in new capabilities.

Acquisition

Senators look to root out contractor conflicts of interest

A bipartisan group of senators have introduced legislation they say will help prevent potential conflicts within businesses that work with the federal government after concerns were raised over McKinsey's work with the Food and Drug Administration while it was consulting with pharmaceutical firms.

Acquisition

The Labor Dept. wants to revise a Trump-era policy on handling discrimination claims against contractors

Department argues the changes would increase flexibility, efficiency and enforcement, but attorneys for contractors say the revisions would hurt transparency.

Acquisition

GSA announces four-fold increase in contracting opportunity goals for SDBs

As the administration continues its efforts to steer $100 billion in contracting opportunities to historically marginalized firms by 2025, the General Services Administration is unveiling how it plans to help make that objective a reality.

Acquisition

Pentagon acquisition reforms may get more scrutiny

William LaPlante, who has been nominated to be the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, indicated that he would review recent acquisition reforms and champion modern software practices if confirmed.

Acquisition

Agencies look to streamline payment data collection in contracting

The keepers of the federal government's acquisition rulebook – GSA, DOD and NASA – want to increase automation in payments to contractors.

Acquisition

The IC's 4-year emerging tech investment plan

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence's investment strategy aims to make it easier for companies to connect with program managers.