Acquisition
White House leverages procurement authority to address racial wealth gap
The Biden administration is hoping to steer $100 billion in federal contracting opportunities to small, disadvantaged businesses over the next five years in an effort to narrow economic divides in the United States.
Modernization
Shared services funded in 2022 budget plan
The federal government's Quality Services Management Offices, set up to deliver services in grants, financial management, human resources and cybersecurity, are chugging along in the proposed FY2022 budget.
Acquisition
Biden's first budget ups cyber and tech spending; gives feds a 2.7% pay raise
The Biden administration released its $6 trillion fiscal year 2022 budget proposal on Friday, including $1.5 trillion in discretionary spending across federal agencies.
Acquisition
CMMC assessor training expected in late summer
The professional training needed to carry out assessments for the Defense Department's unified cybersecurity standard for contractors won't kick off until later this summer.
Acquisition
NITAAC releases long-awaited RFP for $50 billion CIO-SP4
The National Institute of Health's Information Technology Acquisition and Assessment Center (NITAAC) has released its highly-anticipated request for proposals for the new CIO Solutions and Partners 4 (CIO-SP4) contract vehicle.
Acquisition
VA lowballed health record modernization costs, watchdog says
In a newly released report, the inspector general at the Department of Veterans Affairs indicates that the $16 billion estimate for the switch to the Cerner electronic health record system doesn't incorporate billions in needed physical infrastructure costs.
Acquisition
NASA looks to change course on cybersecurity with new contract
NASA's inspector general says the agency's "fragmented" IT approach has left it with an overly risky cybersecurity posture. Meanwhile the agency is preparing a solicitation for a wide-ranging cybersecurity management contract.
Acquisition
DOD oversight report tracks pandemic spending
A recent inspector general report looks at contractors who received COVID-19 reimbursement under a $1 billion allocation in the CARES Act
Cybersecurity
Connecting and supporting the post-pandemic workforce
After a year of emergency response, IT leaders are planning for a permanently changed operating environment.
Modernization
Unfunded mandates in the cyber EO?
New marching orders for agencies and technology vendors in the Biden administration's new cybersecurity policy need to be supported in the budget, industry reps say.
Acquisition
Is it time to test the limits -- and potential -- of expanding CMMC?
Calls for a certified baseline of cybersecurity seem to increase with every cyberattack. Is the CMMC model the right template for a universal and independently verifiable way to protect supply chains?
Acquisition
Lawmakers reach bipartisan deal to probe Jan. 6 attack
The proposed commission would have investigative and subpoena powers and would hold hearings to produce a report by the end of 2021.
Modernization
GSA plans new cloud buying vehicle to support modernization at all levels of government
The General Services Administration is soliciting feedback from industry on a planned new blanket purchase agreement to provide cloud infrastructure, storage, software and services to federal agencies and state and local governments.
Acquisition
Biden orders $15 minimum wage for federal contractors
The new minimum wage is set to take effect in early 2022. Agencies will have to include the $15 wage floor in any new contract solicitations starting on January 30, 2022 and have this minimum wage in new contracts by March 30, 2022.
People
EPA eliminates Trump workforce orders from labor contract
The Environmental Protection Agency rolled back the clock on portions of its collective bargaining agreement on official time, union office space, grievance procedures and more.
People
SSA under pressure to reopen Trump-era union contract
The Social Security Administration is under fire from unions and congressional Democrats unhappy with the agency's pace in implementing the Biden administration's changes to labor-management relations, and many are seeking the ouster of the Trump-appointed agency heads.
Acquisition
Could 2022 see the end of OCO?
As the Biden administration prepares to deliver its first budget, the question arises of whether there's enough political clout to end the controversial overseas contingency operations account.
Digital Government
Federal buildings, vehicles set to go green in Biden's $2T infrastructure package
Updates to federal facilities and an emphasis on electric vehicles are just part of the Biden administration's $2 trillion jobs and infrastructure plan announced on Wednesday.
Cybersecurity
Mayorkas announces cyber 'sprints' on ransomware, ICS, workforce
The Homeland Security secretary announced a series of focused efforts to address issues around ransomware, critical infrastructure and the agency's workforce that will all be launched in the coming weeks.
Acquisition