Acquisition

GSA plans to scale up e-commerce program

The General Services Administration wants to offer government buyers more online platforms to conduct small-scale acquisitions following a reportedly well-liked pilot program involving Amazon, according to a new request for proposals.

People

The Biden administration moves to make unions more accessible to federal contractors

This carries out a recommendation from the White House task force on worker organizing. 

People

GSA’s Dave Zvenyach to exit government

In his position leading the Technology Transformation Services, Zvenyach oversaw 18F and other key programs including the burgeoning identity shared service Login.gov.

Modernization

GSA’s Ascend cloud RFI emphasizes baseline requirements for vendors

The General Services Administration seeks feedback from the private sector on its highly anticipated one-stop shop for federal agencies seeking commercial cloud solutions.

People

GSA appoints climate adviser

The General Services Administration released a few other personnel announcements.

Acquisition

GSA aims for greener IT contracts by adding sustainability criteria

The General Service Administration’s new contracting language is one tool for the agency to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.  

Digital Government

GSA’s Trump Hotel lease is under scrutiny again

Lawmakers are calling for the agency to consider terminating the lease after the Trump Organization’s accounting firm said it could no longer vouch for the company’s financial statements.

Digital Government

Biden's CX order puts new momentum behind longtime efforts, leaders say

Officials at an ACT-IAC event explained how a recent White House executive order on customer experience is helping to unify disparate CX efforts across government.

Digital Government

More funding needed for Biden’s CX order, says industry group

The Alliance for Digital Innovation said that “current funding levels will not be enough to provide an on-going, modern, and customer-centric digital experience,” called for in the customer experience executive order, and urged the administration to replenish the Technology Modernization Fund and the Federal Citizen Services Fund to support improved CX.

Acquisition

GSA preps draft solicitations for major cloud BPA

The General Services Administration released new details this week about an upcoming multiple-award blanket purchase agreement to help speed up enterprisewide modernization initiatives and meet increased demand for secure commercial cloud products and services.

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.

Digital Government

White House elevates CX with executive order

A Biden administration executive order looks to use tech to simplify and reduce friction in citizen interactions with government programs and services.

People

Top House Republican pushes back on government telework

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) isn’t the only Republican lawmaker asking questions about the productivity of teleworking federal employees.

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

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.

People

Emily Murphy joins GMU

Emily Murphy, who headed the General Services Administration during the Trump presidency, is joining the George Mason University Center for Government Contracting as a senior research fellow.

Modernization

Build Back Better passes House

The $2 trillion bill includes $550 million in governmentwide technology modernization plus billions targeted for agency tech programs as well as new investments in sustainable tech and electric vehicles.