Acquisition

OASIS RFPs imminent

The final documents opening a new GSA contract to bidders are expected by Aug. 1.

Acquisition

Live blogging from the National Contract Management Association World Congress

Man on the scene Steve Kelman on the number of government employees in attendance, the demographics of the crowd and contracts for commercial items.

Acquisition

Bill would limit reverse auctions

Despite GSA's empbrace of the procurement technique, some lawmakers seek to restrict its use.

Acquisition

Multiprong support comes for strategic sourcing

Legislation and a new GSA contract could bolster practices intended to amplify federal buying power.

Acquisition

A show of support for strategic sourcing

Legislation to expand bulk buying expected on July 18, as FAS commissioner touts savings to date.

Acquisition

Some senators skeptical about strategic sourcing

Can GSA's bulk-buying strategy really save the big dollars its supporters promise?

Acquisition

FITARA: Son of Clinger-Cohen?

The latest attempt at IT reform echoes the IT Management Reform Act, better known as Clinger-Cohen...so watch OMB’s reaction carefully.

Acquisition

Aiding small biz in the GWAC age

Conference speakers outline the challenges, solutions for small firms in the federal contracting market as budgets shrink and projects grow more complex.

Acquisition

Contractor compensation: Just a giveaway?

A reader argues that contractor compensation should be done away with.

Acquisition

Report tracks 'tail spend'

A new report from the IBM Center for the Business of Government provides what it calls the first quantitative analysis of the federal government’s mostly overlooked "tail spend," which drains billions of dollars in a jumble of ill-defined products and services.

Acquisition

Army to streamline commercial IT purchases

CIO/G-6 office to handle all requests to buy outside CHESS contracts.

Acquisition

Deconstructing the contractor compensation debate

Agencies have been reimbursing companies for executive compensation since the Clinton administration. What started as an effort to persuade contractors to stick with the federal market during a time of private-sector economic boom has continued and the cap on the amount paid has risen inexorably, leading to an increasingly loud clamor for reform.

Acquisition

Acquisition lessons from the private sector

A GAO report provides some insights into commercial services acquisition that the government can use, Steve Kelman reports.

Acquisition

Purchase agreements to profit small biz

Two new GSA BPAs are designed to create opportunities for small firms teamed with bigger partners.

Acquisition

Senate committee wants answers on energy saving delays

Contracts based on energy savings could aid the optimization of data centers, but the OMB put a hold on the first such effort was to begin, raising senator's concerns.

Acquisition

House panel probes 'cozy relationship' between IRS official, contractor

The IRS's Gregory Roseman invoked his Fifth Amendment rights in the face of congressional questioning about work given to a business that claimed HUBZone status -- since revoked -- and service-disabled veteran-owned preference based on the owner's 1984 sports injury.

Acquisition

Bill seeks limits on contractor executive reimbursements

A new bill would tie contractor salary reimbursements to the vice president's salary, a proposal that raises the ire of some contractor advocates.