Acquisition

Does EyakTek scandal mean trouble for Alaskan firms?

The indictment of an official at EyakTek puts an uncomfortable spotlight on the Alaska Native Corporation program, but is there really a connection?

Acquisition

3 keys to good suspension and debarment programs

The government can't risk being seen as lax on rooting out fraudulent contractors, a GAO official says.

Acquisition

OMB optimistic on effort to change contracting mentality

Agencies are ready to collaborate on multi-agency contracts, OMB leaders believe.

Acquisition

OFPP may struggle to get agencies under fewer roofs

OFPP guidance may push agencies to curb their own interagency contract proposals or possibly cause them to launch stand-alone contracts without economies of scale, some say.

Acquisition

OFPP trims fat from interagency contracting overlap

OFPP says agencies should stop, look and listen before going ahead with an interagency contract.

Acquisition

GSA matches customer DNA to IT commodity program

Agencies are going to GSA to buy their commercial off-the-shelf products rather than developing custom-made solutions, so GSA is developing its own solution.

Acquisition

DOD tripped up by low staffing, poor planning

Officials will end relatively few contracts by their closeout date because 90 percent are already overdue.

Acquisition

Procurement shops to become more automated

The regulatory-laden federal procurement process is tough to turn in any new direction, but younger employees and tighter budgets might move it slightly.

Acquisition

What does the $16 muffin really mean?

Attention to allegedly overpriced conference muffins gives a false image of the reasons for the deficit, writes Steve Kelman.

Acquisition

Did SSA lose track of employees when it overspent on software?

Federal auditors ask what blunders the Social Security Administration made that led to overspending on software licenses.

Acquisition

Kundra's IT cartel theory: Arguments for and against

Former Federal CIO Vivek Kundra deserves credit for giving people the opportunity to voice their frustrations, whether you agree with him or not.

Acquisition

Lawmaker wants to scrap small-business classification system

Sen. Claire McCaskill wants to end a long-used system that is "complex,""clumsy" and "nuts."

Acquisition

Wasteful spending on the front lines

The Commission on Wartime Contracting has finished its work. Now what?

Acquisition

Senators hope to help small companies

The Senate wants to toughen penalties for large companies masquerading as small businesses.

Acquisition

Senator fumes at contracting lessons unlearned

Sen. Claire McCaskill said the billions of dollars wasted in Iraq and Afghanistan is a repeat of contracting problems in past contingency operations.

Acquisition

OMB, GSA to reteach feds' printing behavior

Before agencies warm up their printers, officials also want them to understand the effects of printing.

Acquisition

Is Congress loyal to federal employees?

Budget cuts will test senators' desire to balance feds and contractors appropriately, White House official says.

Acquisition

Change sought to government payments for contractor executive salaries

The formula to calculate executive pay reimbursements could lead to "excessive" amounts, administration says.

Acquisition

DOD orders contractors to publicize fraud hotline

DOD IG wants contractors to be sure employees know whom to call to report fraud.

Acquisition

Lawmakers push OMB to update executive pay cap

Three members of Congress complained that OFPP is late in setting the cap for 2011, pointing out that since 2004 updates came only as late as May.