Acquisition

4 tips for sequestration savings

Some rethinking of contract stratgies may be one of the keys to surviving sequestration says law professor Charles Tiefer.

Acquisition

DOD struggles to justify sole source awards

A law that took effect in 2011 requires written justification for sole-source contracts when they're worth more than $20 million. Why is DOD finding that a hard rule to follow?

Acquisition

NASA open source project back on track

The incumbent vendor, who lost the latest competition, has withdrawn a protest that had threatened to stop the space agency's efforts to move to an open-source content management system.

Acquisition

Proposal would take suspension, debarment powers from agencies

Darrell Issa would like to change the way the government decides to bar some companies from contract eligibility.

Acquisition

Small-business quotas could become even tougher to meet

The budget squeeze coupled with a bill to change the small-business targets add up to a challenge for contracting officers.

Acquisition

Welcome back, FAR 13.5

Simplified acquisition procedures for smaller purchases have returned to the contracting officer's toolbox.

Acquisition

Task force tackles veteran contracting challenges

Integrity of agency certifications to be a focal point for a small-business working group.

Acquisition

Can RFP-EZ really change procurement?

This Presidential Innovations Fellows project aims to help contracting officers and small businesses alike. Now agencies will see whether it works in real life.

Acquisition

GAO pushes new interagency contracting rules

The policy framework is in place, but now GSA and DOD have to implement it.

Acquisition

OFPP seeks 'aggressive goals' for agency contractor reviews

Agencies are improving their compliance with requirements to review contractor performance, but is it enough?

Acquisition

Senator seeks grassroots budget input

An online tool allows the public to contribute to the debate on federal budge priorities.

Acquisition

Industry pushes to reform procurement

A private-sector commission is developing a report for Congress to outline recommended federal procurement strategies.

Acquisition

Services pose acquisition challenge

It's hard to package professional services into high-volume orders, yet procurement experts are exploring the question of what strategic sourcing for services would look like.

Acquisition

Are procurement contests entering the IT mainstream?

Steve Kelman is hopeful that the VA's unusual choice to host a competition for an IT system will break new ground.

Acquisition

NDAA expands opportunities for women

Change in contract threshold allows agencies to consider more contracts for set-aside.

Acquisition

GSA chief plans 10 strategic sourcing efforts by 2015

Agency plans to target products and services that all agencies use, such as wireless devices and tools, for bulk-buying technique.

Acquisition

How DOD can make sense of its software

A little-noticed provision in the Defense Authorization Act could bring big savings through license optimization, writes Flexera's Stephen Schmidt.

Acquisition

Bid protests: Useful tool or abusive practice?

Bid protests may be a necessary way for companies to stand up for their interests, but they also can be a tactic to game the system, according to some analysts.

Acquisition

Cloud brokers: Simplifying complexity

Buying cloud services can be tricky, with complicated problems and unexpected puzzles. Cloud brokers create a buffer between buyer and seller to make it easier. Serving as intermediaries between vendors and customers, they can provide a single point of contact and a way to develop customized solutions tailored to unique environments.

Acquisition

A winning idea for innovation

Contests offer an attractive alternative to traditional procurements in some situations, bringing innovative solutions to agencies to attack unusual problems, writes Steve Kelman.