Acquisition

Would capping contractor salary reimbursements make a difference?

GAO report says few small firms would be affected; industry warns the study relies on a 'minuscule' sample size.

Acquisition

OMB issues new spending-data directive to agencies

A memorandum puts some additional controls on contracting data, but transparency advocates say it falls far short of a possible legislative remedy.

Acquisition

DISA gets Microsoft source code

As part of a contract for cardholder support services, the defense agency gets access to the proprietary code.

Acquisition

Taking the pulse of contracting professionals at the Bureau of Prisons

Steve Kelman finds the frustrations and opportunities for improvement are remarkably constant, whether the contract is for high-end IT or improved food services.

Acquisition

Bid protest problems overblown, says former OFPP head

Dan Gordon's study shows that protests are less frequent, more beneficial than critics claim.

Acquisition

FITARA passes House in Defense bill

Legislation harboring some major changes to federal IT, including budget authority for CIOs, is one major step closer to becoming law.

Acquisition

Issa seeks to standardize contractor suspension process

A bill inching closer to reality would phase out agency suspension/debarment offices.

Acquisition

Can feds harness the global workforce?

Steve Kelman wonders if vendors offering vastly lower prices thanks to global competition would capture the government's attention.

Acquisition

FITARA could pass as part of Defense bill

The next major piece of procurement reform legislation has been significantly amended in recent weeks.

Acquisition

GSA IG criticizes managers meddling in contract negotiations

The report could inadvertently impede efforts to keep agencies and contractors talking, some fear.

Acquisition

Unraveling the facts about GWACs

Procurement experts cut through the confusion surrounding governmentwide acquisition contracts.

Acquisition

A big win for Big Blue

GAO has upheld IBM's protest of the cloud-services contract that the CIA had awarded to Amazon.

Acquisition

Cloud brokers make sense

The broker model is mutually beneficial for providers, agencies and taxpayers because it centralizes services and pricing.

Acquisition

Administration pushing Congress to reduce contractor compensation

OFPP's Jordan says White House is preparing a legislative proposal to use president's salary as the new cap.

Acquisition

Breaking down the 2014 IT budget request

Deltek analysis charts the winners and losers in the president's numbers.

Acquisition

New sourcing rules for China IT remain a work in progress

Two months after becoming law, restrictions and their impact remain unclear to industry and agencies alike.

Acquisition

The dangers of checklists

A reader warns that DOD may be losing the forest for the trees with Better Buying.