Acquisition

Experts applaud DOD Better Buying plan

The Defense Department is generally on the right track with its Better Buying Power initiative, experts say. Some refinements, however, could improve it.

Acquisition

DOD advances Better Buying Power effort

Officials want DOD's workforce to move past solutions that just fulfill requirements, in favor of creativity and leadership.

Acquisition

Air Force rapped for inappropriate contract costs

The Air Force inapporpriately authorized more than $100 million in payments for a handheld device contract, IG finds.

Acquisition

Satellites on borrowed time

The fleet of satellites that enable accurate weather forecasting is aging, and the program intended to replace them is both behind schedule and over-budget. As a result, a lengthy gap without the satellites' data is looking more likely.

Acquisition

DOD's Kendall pushes data for better buying

Experts generally applaud effort to improve defense acquisitions, with a cautionary note.

Acquisition

DOD IG report may reveal a need for self-policing

An attorney wonders if changes to the bid protest system make new forms of oversight necessary for task orders.

Acquisition

GSA OASIS contract enters home stretch

OASIS is intended to solve many of the problems associated with professional services contracting, and a draft RFP is just a few weeks away.

Acquisition

HUBZone contracting gets harder

Contracting officers were already having a difficult time finding qualified HUBZone businesses before the Census of 2010 dramatically reduced the number of them available.

Acquisition

Contracting rules at cross-purposes

Agencies are trying to cope with competing acquisition priorities stemming from rules and financial constraints, causing some experts to remember an earlier era of procurement before major reforms.

Acquisition

Issa preps IT reform legislation

The chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is expected to introduce legislation in January that would likely enhance the CIO role, address strategic sourcing and improve acquisition workforce training.

Acquisition

Executive compensation debate returns

A group of organizations, including labor unions and government watchdog groups, are asking Congress to reduce the cap on salary compensation that agencies pay to contractors.

Acquisition

Shadow of sequestration hovers over IT market forecast

The Defense Department, beset by flat spending and budget cuts, leads the way in dampening industry group's market outlook.

Acquisition

DOD requires faster payments to subcontractors

Defense procurement officials have added a clause to their contracts to get prime contractors to pay their small subcontractors faster, an effort the Obama administration is pushing.

Acquisition

GSA wins award for small-business contracting

The Small Business Administration honored GSA for its success in awarding contracts to small firms in various categories.

Acquisition

Good directions for strategic sourcing

Steve Kelman assesses recommendations in a recent GAO report on strategic sourcing.

Acquisition

Agencies take action as GAO knocks strategic sourcing effort

After an audit found that agencies have made very little use of strategic sourcing, DOD and other agencies point to some reforms, pledge to make more.

Acquisition

Industry resists government's push for low prices

The cheapest deal isn't always the best buy, industry advocates argue.

Acquisition

12 hot companies to watch

In an era of federal streamlining and cost-cutting, these companies are thriving by helping agencies get the most out of their data and dollars.

Acquisition

The Top 50 Systems Integrators

Systems integrators are the big guns in the contracting world. Here are the top 50, as measured by contract earnings.

Acquisition

Using startups brings rewards -- and risks

Steve Kelman sorts out the pros and cons of hiring startup firms for government contracts.