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.

Acquisition

Agencies to pay more toward contractor exec salaries

Obama administration fails in its effort to reduce contractor executive compensation in contracts.

Acquisition

GSA's Oracle cancellation still a mystery

When parties can’t agree on aspects of a contract, experts say call it a day.

Acquisition

Congress steps up efforts to control conference costs

Following GSA scandal, lawmakers continue proposals to bat down overspending by agenices on conferences.

Acquisition

GSA kills Oracle contract

GSA cancels Oracle's Schedule 70 contract for IT services, but offers few details on why.

Acquisition

Sole-source justifications for small-business contracts made permanent

Agencies have been under an interim rule requiring them to justify many small-business sole-source awards. Now the rule has become final.

Acquisition

Meet the evangelists of interacting in gov 2.0 style

In an emerging 2.0 government, two officials at GSA took a chance on a new way to get government and industry to interact.

Acquisition

Contracting reforms could come in the next defense authorization bill

Rep. Sam Graves, whose Small Business Committee already approved eight small-business contracting reform bills, is asking for similar measures to appear in the fiscal 2013 National Defense Authorization Act.

Acquisition

VA pushes relationship repair with industry suppliers

The Veterans Affairs Department is leading the charge to improve procurement through better communication with industry.

Acquisition

GAO sees progress in DOD contract inventory

Defense officials have fixed a few problems, but they aren't in the clear yet in gathering accurate data.

Acquisition

GSA could get another congressional hearing on its calendar

Sen. Susan Collins joins the chorus demanding GSA officials appear at a hearing regarding the now-infamous Western Regions conference, but some observers say Congress has gone too far.

Acquisition

Bill would allow federally funded centers to get exclusive access to government work

The Professional Services Council argues that government R&D should be subject to competition.

Acquisition

GSA's new chief says fiasco 'cuts to heart' of mission

Tangherlini, acting head of GSA, says the over-the-top conference spending undermines of GSA's duty to save the government money.

Acquisition

Congress calls GSA officials in wake of scandal

IG's report of blatant overspending brings GSA officials to face lawmakers' questions at three congressional hearings.