Acquisition

Administration, GAO clash in turf war

The Government Accountability Office has denied the Small Business Administration’s request to reconsider recent bid protest decisions that give priority to HUBZone businesses. This might lead to a turf fight.

Modernization

Agencies seek social-media contractors

Even though social-media tools are easy to use, some agencies want contractors to help anyway.

Acquisition

Senators probe Alaska set-aside program

A Senate subcommittee says agencies are using ANCs to award contracts quickly and avoid competition.

Acquisition

Report: Alaska Native contracting program delivers little benefit to communities

Four Alaska Native Corporations were among the top 100 recipients of contract awards in 2008 and six companies made Washington Technology’s list of the top 100 prime contractors in 2009.

Modernization

Kundra: System will give agencies easier access to new technology

A new storefront is designed to let federal agencies buy technology in real time.

Cybersecurity

GSA SmartBuy contracts awarded

Program will make cybersecurity software available to agencies.

Acquisition

Audit agency reaffirms earlier ruling against HUBZone preference

SBA and OMB contended GAO overreached its authority in ruling that HUBZone businesses should get priority over 8(a) small businesses and service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses.

Acquisition

Coalition stumps for Alaska Native set-asides as hearing looms

Native8(a)works launched its effort to tell Congress about what SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program does for the United States’ indigenous people.

Cybersecurity

IG: SBInet has too many contractors

SBInet's heavy reliance on contractors increases the risk of losing control of that program.

People

Congress tries to improve defense acquisition

A defense task force said the acquisition process is too cumbersome and slow to keep up with the fast-pace evolution of information technology systems.

Acquisition

SAIC faces challenge in False Claims Act defense

SAIC could be facing long odds in its defense against a False Claims Act lawsuit, says a watchdog group.

People

DOD seeks to balance outsourcing, in-house expertise

The Defense Department needs systems engineers who have a deep understanding of the IT systems in their charge, although they don’t need to actually write the software lines of code, an official said.

Acquisition

SAIC faces challenge in False Claims defense

SAIC claims the lawsuit is false, but one expert says that the company is playing a game of chicken with the Justice Department.

Acquisition

Spending panel wants inventory of service contracts

The House Appropriations Committee wants an inventory of services contracts and for agencies to consider bringing that work back in-house.

People

SAIC vows to fight False Claims lawsuit tied to GSA deal

Science Applications International Corp. plans to strongly defend itself against a whistle-blower lawsuit involving a General Services Administration contract to support naval facility in Mississippi.

Acquisition

VA's Acquisition Academy gets excellence award

The academy's Internship School that trains the next generation of acquisition employees gets award for its approach to teaching.

Modernization

FEMA plans consolidation of IT support contracts

The Federal Emergency Management Agency says it will consolidate the ways it contracts for systems engineering support and technical assistance.

People

Army IT exec weighs in on the service's technology programs, challenges

Gary Winkler, Army program executive officer for enterprise information systems at Fort Belvoir, Va., discussed a number of current initiatives, including the Logistics Modernization Program, in a recent interview.

Cybersecurity

Coast Guard unit to outsource metrics management

The Coast Guard Aviation Logistics Center will hire a contractor to implement its Earned Value Management program.

People

Op-ed: Dispelling the myth of GSA schedule lag times

Vivek Kundra was off the mark when he described long lead times for buying technology through the GSA schedule, writes Larry Allen, president of the Coalition for Government Procurement.