Acquisition
Do small-business preferences make the grade?
Agencies labor mightily to hit small-business contracting targets, but the emphasis on score cards overshadows some larger questions about set-asides.
Acquisition
Are small-business set-asides helping?
After nearly 35 years of small-business contracting goals, it's worth asking how the set-asides are doing in delivering the intended results.
Acquisition
Council steps up importance of contractor performance in proposed rule change
Regulators want to change the rules for documenting contractor past performance, with an eye in particular to the treatment of subcontractors.
Acquisition
'Byzantine warren of fiefdoms' makes contracting fraud hard to stop
Data standards could protect taxpayers against deliberate fraud in federal contracting, argues an agency inspector general.
Acquisition
VA to direct more money to service-disabled vets
VA officials intend to boost their contract awards to veterans.
Acquisition
Treasury wants more women, minorities as contract employees
The Treasury Department is considering adding a clause to future contracts encouraging contractors to have more women and minorities among their employees.
Acquisition
DOD falters on cyber-purchasing plan
A program intended to speed up the acquisition of technology is falling behind schedule, according to reports.
Acquisition
How a few words could change small-business set-aside picture
The Obama administration is trying to change some wording in the acquisition rules make it easier to set aside R&D solicitations.
Acquisition
Lack of clearance reciprocity costs millions, survey shows
Contractors say they could fulfill their duties more efficiently and save the government money if security clearances were accepted more broadly.
Acquisition
Will less federal spending really mean fewer jobs?
Conventional wisdom holds that federal budget cuts lead to less spending on contracts and, therefore, to job declines. Is that really true?
Acquisition
Study quantifies coming cuts in federal IT spending
As inevitable budget cuts come nearer, market research firm attempts to predict just where spending will fall the most.
Acquisition
GSA's new award-management system offline right after launch
Taken down because of performance issues, GSA's new SAM site is scheduled to be back Aug. 6.
Acquisition
House passes government charge card rules
House lawmakers made some changes to a Senate bill that puts more controls on the use of government charge cards.
Acquisition
Should VA's company database go governmentwide?
VA has a database of verified companies owned by veterans. Other agencies could take advantage of that resource, GAO says.
Acquisition
House considers purchase card oversight bill
Lawmakers want more record-keeping rules on the federal employees who have government credit cards.
Acquisition
GSA admits demand-based model no 'silver bullet'
GSA is instituting the Demand Based Model to align its resources with areas of greatest need, but admits it isn't a full solution for the Schedules program.
Acquisition
FCW Editorial: Summing up the Networx challenges
Now halfway through its contract period, Networx is experiencing some difficulties in getting agencies to transition to the new vendors and the new offerings.
Acquisition
Acquisition chiefs need clearer roles and responsibilities, GAO says
Without clearly-defined duties, the CAO may not have a strong basis for more permanent inclusion in an organization's leadership structure, auditors conclude.
Acquisition
Networx: A vision for the future
As GSA designs the next big network services contract, a veteran of the development and management of Networx and FTS 2001 has some advice to offer.
Acquisition