Acquisition

Congress won't subject analysts to lobbyists' rules

Controversial clause is eliminated, for the moment at least, but not without objections.

Acquisition

GAO: Electronic waste guidance needs teeth

GSA guidelines don't carry the force of mandates, and GAO believes that the rules for electronic waste disposal needs the backing of an agency with enforcement powers.

Acquisition

5 ways Congress could change small-biz contracting

A House committee approved five bills that could reform several troublesome aspects of small-business contracting, including the system used to define small businesses.

Acquisition

Fix DOD's regulatory complexities, panel recommends

Lawmakers wants a simpler acquisition process that helps defense employees and doesn't intimidate potential contractors.

Acquisition

Army closes ITES hardware contract to non-Army buyers

ITES-2H becomes Army only vehicle so its life can be extended until a new award is made.

Acquisition

DOJ moving forward on disputed contract: report

Department is re-evaluating whether the contractor gave the taxpayers the best value, as advised by GAO.

Acquisition

Senators propose automatic contractor suspensions

Legislation aimed at increasing contractor accountability draws criticism.

Acquisition

GAO upholds protest of Justice ID management contract

The Justice Department did not properly evaluate pricing, past performance and organizational conflict of interest allegations in its award of a recent $844K contract, audit concludes.

Acquisition

GSA set to review struggling acquisition systems project

GSA has assembled a team to delve into problems with an effort to modernize and consolidate its universe of acquistion systems.

Acquisition

DOD competes more services than products

The Defense Department holds more open competitions when seeking services than when seeking products, audit finds.

Acquisition

Fired Eyak exec pleads guilty to fraud

Harold Babb faces prison time and will forfeit cash, properties and a Porsche to the government.

Acquisition

VA launches probe of reverse auctions

Did official sidestep best practices by ordering a halt?

Acquisition

VA halts reverse auctions, citing 'violations' of contract hierarchy

Order comes despite more than $7 million in savings.

Acquisition

What's the most valuable small-business category?

Survey charts various small-biz set-aside categories to find the most valuable.

Acquisition

Should contractors keep the right to respond to past-performance reviews?

Steve Kelman considers a proposal to disallow contractor responses to past-performance reviews.

Acquisition

IG: DOD errs in verifying small businesses' status

More than 30 contracts that should have gone to companies owned by service-disabled veterans might not have, IG finds.

Acquisition

Administration tunes up contracting rules

Rule revisions tackle small business, cost-reimbursement contracts, multiple-award contracts, and small companies owned by women.

Acquisition

Bill would stifle contractors' responses to past-performance reviews

Proposed legislation would forbid companies from challenging assessments or even correcting errors, critics say.

Acquisition

How OMB's guidance fails to prevent duplication at federal agencies

Efforts to prevent the proliferation of overlapping programs have fallen short.