Acquisition

VA's Frye stirs debate with reverse auction explanation

The VA official who halted reverse auctions becomes the focal point of the debate.

Acquisition

Agencies could lose some suspension and debarment discretion

Defense bill would mandate action against contractors in some situations, rather than allowing agencies to decide case by case.

Acquisition

Small businesses face federal market storms

The federal budget crunch could crush small businesses without more agency support, warns columnist Jaime Gracia.

Acquisition

Collins presses OFPP nom on politics in contracting

Sen. Susan Collins is concerend about OFPP nominee's stance on a hypothetical order requiring companies to disclose political contributions in bids.

Acquisition

OFPP nominee reveals priorities

Joe Jordan, nominated to lead the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, could get Senate governmental affairs committee approval next week.

Acquisition

Defense bill would boost small business contracting goal

DOD lacks a culture geared toward fostering small business participation, lawmakers believe, but a new bill would attempt to change that.

Acquisition

Mythbusting: OFPP tackles industry's contracting misconceptions

Officials emphasized feedback early in the acquisition process and taking advantage of industry days as agencies maximize scarces resources.

Acquisition

IG highlights GSA's missing pieces in contract files

Audit finds GSA's assisted acquisition service center, FEDSIM, without complete files on high-risk contracts.

Acquisition

Senators to DOD: Use more of your own employees

Lawmakers urge DOD to avoid placing caps on department employees that contractors don't have to also abide by.

Acquisition

DOD moves to change rules for buying commercial products

DOD has proposed changes to acquisition rules that may drastically impact the federal marketplace.

Acquisition

Putting the GSA Humpty Dumpty back together again

Once the dust settles, the hard work will begin to build a stronger, more customer-focused agency.

Acquisition

VA resumes reverse auctions, but questions linger

Updated guidelines on reverse auctions require contracting officers to show how they benefit the agency's bottom line.

Acquisition

Spare parts pricing -- still crazy after all these years

Despite years of recognition that it's a problem, the government hasn't solved spare-parts pricing.

Acquisition

Industry wants agencies in control, not mandates

Industry groups want agencies to have discretion and the authority to manage its acquisition as it sees best.

Acquisition

GSA's defenders line up

Rep. Jeff Denham's call to dismantle GSA meets skepticism and opposition in the acquisition community.

Acquisition

Issa warns against 'gimmicks' at technology field hearings

Two senior Democratic members of the House committee ask for field hearing to look at IT, acquisition priorities, but Rep. Darrell Issa has strong words for them.

Acquisition

VA official explains decision to halt reverse auctions

Jan Frye says reverse auctions seem to have allowed contracting officers to take a lax approach to their work.

Acquisition

Rep. Jeff Denham: 'Abolish GSA altogether'

The chairman of an oversight subcommittee argues that other agencies or the private sector might be able to do GSA's job better.

Acquisition

Contracting bill would settle debate over including political donations in bids

A House committee approves a bill that would ban agencies from requiring political contribution infromation in contract bids.

Acquisition

OFPP nominee could be in for a long wait

Obama's nominee for OFPP administration gets a hearing, but experts say getting the actual confirmation vote is too tough to call.