Acquisition

GSA's DUNS replacement set to go live

The General Services Administration is ready to flip the switch in early April on the non-proprietary entity identifier that is replacing the old DUNS number in federal contracting systems.

Acquisition

GSA plans follow-on to e-commerce platform pilot

After 18 months of a pilot program, an acquisition platform first established by a few lines of legislation in a defense bill appears poised for growth.

Updated Acquisition

A new rule aims to boost Biden’s ‘Made in America’ program

The update to the Buy American Act would build on the administration’s push to get federal agencies using more domestic products and services.

Acquisition

Former SBA officials press Congress for a more accessible 8(a) program

Former officials from the Small Business Administration, lawmakers and small business owners alike have all called for a series of major reforms they say will greatly improve the agency's landmark business development program.

Acquisition

House panel advances DHS acquisition bills

Two bills seeking to improve oversight of the Department of Homeland Security’s acquisition programs were passed out of committee in a markup on Wednesday, along with a number of other measures.

Acquisition

NGA eyes down selection to speed acquisitions

The down selection process can give the government, and vendors, a more detailed preview into the desired solution and what can actually be delivered.

Acquisition

FirstNet should be reauthorized before it sunsets, GAO says

Any significant changes to the public safety broadband network would be complex, expensive and may disrupt services delivery if the contract with AT&T is interrupted or changed before 2042, GAO warned.

Acquisition

FBI cancels agile BPA

The Criminal Justice Information Services division of the bureau is expected to conduct its own acquisition program for vendors specializing in agile development.

Acquisition

FAR proposal looks to implement key small business regulatory changes

The proposal sets new grounds for protests based on contractors operating under socioeconomic set-asides are "unduly" relying on other vendors, among other significant revisions.

Acquisition

The Army's top buyer wants to test limits of flexible software spending

Douglas Bush, the Army's newly confirmed acquisition chief, wants to do more to reform how the service buys and sustains software.

Acquisition

GSA won't hang up on legacy telecom just yet

The agency is accounting for delays in the Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions transition by adding more time before requiring agencies to move off of current legacy services.

Acquisition

Oracle’s cloud can now host select top secret defense data

The company will make use of special regions to store the government’s data.

Acquisition

Legislation to expand federal contracting opportunities reaches president’s desk

The legislation aims to improve government contracting opportunities for small businesses but could have a major impact on governmentwide procurement. 

Acquisition

GSA, DOD seek clean electricity to meet emissions targets

The federal government's two top buyers of electricity are exploring ways to procure carbon-pollution free electricity to meet the demands of a Biden administration executive order.

Acquisition

Lawmakers ask Biden to make sure DOD follows climate rules

The Pentagon has said it will not seek an exemption to the climate goals.

Acquisition

Biden administration touts ‘significant progress’ in Made in America Office's first year

The office’s purpose is to coordinate federal efforts and maximize the use of domestic goods by taxpayer-funded federal agencies when appropriate.

Acquisition

IRS plans new version of its $700M digital platform contract

The Integrated Enterprise Portal 2.0 procurement will cover some of the most widely used, public-facing IRS applications.

Acquisition

Can Project Maven help shape acquisition policy?

The DOD's inspector general found that the lack of a formal documentation process for acquisition metrics and procedures could prevent future growth of Project Maven and similar projects.

Acquisition

Supreme Court hearing turns to the contractor mandate

Chief Justice John Roberts invoked the federal contractor mandate – currently blocked from taking effect due to a lawsuit – at a hearing at which two separate vaccine authority cases were argued on Friday.

Acquisition

GAO uses uses covert testing scheme to assess SBA screening processes

The Government Accountability Office sent applications from four fake firms to the Small Business Administration's 8(a) program to see whether SBA had made progress addressing long-standing oversight issues.