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.
Acquisition
Protest slows NASA open source project
NASA's plans to move to a content management system with open source architecture would govern 140 websites and 1,600 assets and applications.
Acquisition
GSA: Expand fee program
The Industrial Funding Fee could support programs beyond the Multiple Award Schedules, GSA officials say.
Acquisition
FedRAMP issues first certification
The General Services Administration met its self-imposed year-end deadline to begin approving cloud providers.
Acquisition
Army greenlights controversial intelligence system
The Army's Distributed Common Ground System came under scrutiny after leaked memos deemed it 'not suitable' and 'not survivable.'
Acquisition
Congress calls for clarity on decisions to insource
Defense authorization bill includes new requirements for OMB and agencies to determine whether work should be performed in-housed or contracted to small businesses.
Acquisition
Rule would speed payments for small contractors
An Obama administration proposal would make an accelerated payments provision part of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
Acquisition
8 acquisition provisions in the defense bill
Congress is attempting some procurement reform in the National Defense Authorization Act. We look at the most important measures.
Acquisition
Agencies adjust contracting approach for coming fiscal clampdown
As contractors brace for the impact of budget cuts, agencies also must recalibrate their expectations.
Acquisition
Concerns over acquisition prove to be long-lived
Agency leaders identify the same concerns today as years ago, suggesting that proposed solutions so far have not worked.
Acquisition
Agencies skirted requirement to justify sole-source awards, GAO finds
The fiscal 2010 National Defense Authorization Act requires agencies to submit written justification for awarding sole-source contracts worth more than $20 million to 8(a) firms, but the rule necessary to implement the law was slow in coming.
Acquisition
GSA awards IT commodities purchase agreement
BPA goes to 43 small businesses, provides tablet PCs, mobile products and other IT equipment.
Acquisition
Army vows to get aggressive in pursuit of purchasing discounts
Auditors have found that Army officials are neglecting a requirement to seek discounts and price reductions in contracts.
Acquisition