Acquisition

Letter: Know what you're buying beforehand

NASA buys through original equipment manufacturers and then suggests a source, such as a distributor or GSA, to the procurement team.

Acquisition

Letter: OFPP must punish restrictive procurements

In "brand-name or equal" requirements, the ultimate guilty party is the end user or client originating the request for a purchase.

Acquisition

Letter: Don't axe draft RFPs

The quality of proposals rises and protests decline when draft requests for proposals are issues.

Acquisition

The Lectern: How much competition is enough?

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Acquisition

Letter: Special contracting treatment hurts Alaska Native firms

Allowing noncompetitive awards to certain classes of contractors should be limited to the same requirements as other 8(a) companies.

Acquisition

Letter: Brand name justifications must hold water

All requests for proposals that specify brand name products should be carefully vetted.

Acquisition

OFPP: Watch use of brand names in proposals

Agencies are failing to specify why a brand is necessary, which can limit competition, according to a memo from Paul Denett.

Acquisition

Progress on spending database creeps along

Robert Shea, OMB's lead on the project, said the online system will be ready by Jan. 1, 2008, despite not moving as fast as he would like.

Acquisition

FAR Council endorses SmartBuy

Proposed regulation would give SmartBuy more visibility among contracting officials

Acquisition

Letter: Sen. Clinton just wants to make good appearance

She's showing interest in a questionable award to an Alaska Native firm just to look like a "spend-conscious senator."

Acquisition

Petrillo: A memo to Waxman

Ideas for Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) on how to improve the procurement process

Acquisition

Kelman: Smart negotiating

A new book presents research-based insights on how you can become a better negotiator

Acquisition

SSA awards contract for network equipment services

Prism Pointe Technologies will provide service for 46,000 pieces of hardware in more than 1,500 SSA offices nationwide.

Acquisition

Letter: How does Internet initiative affect new contracts?

The "deadline-then-plan" method behind the Trusted Internet Connections initiative is insane, a reader says.

Acquisition

The Lectern: Weird Swedish thriller

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Acquisition

The Lectern: Buying from commercial vendors 101

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Acquisition

DOI agency awards financial systems support contract

Under the contract, worth up to $100 million, Accenture will manage the Minerals Management Service's royalty financial systems.

Acquisition

Letter: Get facts straight about companies leaving GSA schedules

Clashes between the audit and contracting groups are to blame for the departures of Canon, EMC and Sun.

Acquisition

Share your thoughts: Too much IG oversight?

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