Acquisition

DHA names ineligible companies for $1.5B IT contract

The Defense Health Agency is looking to weed out potential conflicts of interest before they could arise.

Acquisition

Small business contract awards hit record $154B

But fewer of those companies are entering the federal market or competing for the work, the Small Business Administration says.

Acquisition

GSA's new thinking for evaluating Polaris bids

After collecting industry feedback, the General Services Administration will give a new proposal due date and open the bid submission portal.

Acquisition

GSA to slow down process for Polaris IT vehicle

The agency will spend the time reviewing feedback on how joint ventures can bid.

People

A ‘friend from the city’ making her mark on government contracting

Steve Kelman reports on a new addition to the cohort of non-traditional government contractors.

People

Appeals court deals another blow to Biden's contractor vaccine mandate

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit said in a Wednesday decision that Biden's mandate likely goes beyond authority given in the Procurement Act and denied the administration's request that an injunction in three states be lifted.

People

SCOTUS stays out of contractor mandate case, for now

A special expedited hearing on the authority of two federal agencies to issue nationwide vaccine mandates covering nearly 100 million Americans does not touch on the authority to modify federal contracts to require vaccines for contract employees.

Acquisition

USAID plans new ‘Digital Front Door’ portal for contractors

The U.S. Agency for International Development is seeking public feedback on a plan to streamline data reporting requirements for contractors by establishing a single portal for all digital information.

Acquisition

Government watchdog calls out TMF for low rate of cost recovery

The Government Accountability Office said its previous recommendations for the Technology Modernization Fund have not been followed, leading to unrecovered operating costs and unreliable proposal cost estimates for new projects.

Acquisition

A non-traditional IT contractor looks a gift horse in the mouth

Steve Kelman checks in with Agile Six, and that firm's efforts to adapt to labor rates on a major VA contract.

Acquisition

Biden executive order calls for 65% drop in federal government emissions by 2030

A new White House executive order looks to leverage the purchasing power of the federal government to support clean energy goals, and sets ambitious targets for a carbon neutral government by 2050.

Acquisition

Federal court blocks contractor vaccination mandate

A nationwide injunction from a federal court blocks the Biden administration from enforcing its vaccination mandate for the federal contract workforce.

Acquisition

What’s next for CMMC

After the Defense Department revamped cybersecurity standards for contractors, the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program’s accreditation body is making adjustments.

Acquisition

White House instructs agencies on contracting equity goals

The Biden administration detailed policy pivots needed to fulfill a commitment to steer $100 billion in federal contracting opportunities to small disadvantaged businesses over the next five years.

Acquisition

Trade group warns of contractor workforce shortfall over vaccine mandate

A Professional Services Council (PSC) committee has forecasted potential workforce issues and billions of dollars in lost IT spend as the White House battles legal challenges to enforce a vaccine mandate for federal contractors.

Acquisition

Biden taps former USAF buyer to lead DOD acquisition

The White House has nominated former Air Force acquisition chief William LaPlante to be the Pentagon’s top buyer.

Cybersecurity

CISA mulls plan to safeguard federal civilian email

According to contracting documents, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is looking to take a leading role in identifying and defending against threats against federal civilian executive branch email systems and networks.

Acquisition

New rule puts $15 minimum wage for federal contractors in place next year

Employees working on federal contracts will have a $15 minimum wage starting on Jan. 30, 2022, per a new rule issued by the Labor Department on Monday.

Modernization

DOD names cloud contenders in JEDI replacement

The Defense Department has invited Google and Oracle to compete for its massive warfighter cloud program alongside Amazon and Microsoft.

Acquisition

Analysis: Are better debriefings driving down protests?

Beginning 2018, the Defense Department started conducting what are called "enhanced" debriefings that allow for more dialogue with companies after they've lost a contract. That means unsuccessful bidders get more information on where their bid fell short without filing a protest.