Modernization

GSA nominee acknowledges serious challenges

President Barack Obama’s nominee to lead the government’s procurement agency understands that her road will be hard one.

People

Customers creep away from GSA

During Martha Johnson’s nomination hearing to be administrator of the General Services Administration, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) struck at the core of a major issue for the procurement agency: departed customers.

People

Martha Johnson's résumé

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People

Virginia CIO ousted in contract dispute

The CIO of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency has been removed from his post in an apparent dispute with the newly installed Virginia Secretary of Technology.

People

Soundoff: Feds air complaints about contractors

A number of federal employees take issue with a report that suggest agencies proceed cautiously when converting contractor jobs to staff positions.

Digital Government

Commission: DOD has acquisition problems in Iraq, Afghanistan

The Defense Department has too few trained acquisition employees to keep up with the increasingly expensive operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, commission states.

Modernization

GAO: Avoid fragmented broadband policies

The FCC should work with other federal agencies to avoid a fragmented approach on national broadband policies, a new report states.

People

Firm says Chopra wants innovation in health IT

CTO Aneesh Chopra is seeking to improve innovation in government health IT by seeking new procurement channels to increase input from vendors, according to a research firm.

Acquisition

Kennedy debuts health care reform bill

Sen. Edward Kennedy's long-awaited health care reform legislation includes some IT provisions, including establishing standards for electronic enrollment in federal and state health systems.

Acquisition

Report: Think twice before in-sourcing government work

Taking work from the private sector should be done deliberately and based on facts, not innuendo and rhetoric, according to a new report.

People

Why contracting officers get no respect (or do they?)

In response to a recent article, several acquisition officials wrote in to share their experiences in federal government.

People

IG: VA should re-evaluate technology agreement

VA's inspector general said officials should reconsider an agreement with the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center to provide technology support.

People

GSA nominee lays out reform plans

If confirmed by the Senate, Martha Johnson would be the fifth administrator in 14 months for the General Services Administration.

Acquisition

Regulators to discuss how to get authentic IT

Officials continue talks with industry about how to make sure the government buys authentic IT products.

Cybersecurity

DHS draws flak for review of services contracts

DHS' new mandatory reviews of professional service contracts: A good idea or too tough to do?

Cybersecurity

Deepwater milestone signals a step forward

Coast Guard Rear Adm. Gary Blore, assistant commandant for acquisition, discusses the final acceptance of the National Security Cutter Bertholf, which is the largest asset completed so far in the service's controversial $24 billion Integrated Deepwater Systems acquisition program.

Acquisition

Senators grease skids for Johnson to head GSA

Senators say Martha Johnson, President Barack Obama's nominee to be GSA administrator, has a lot of experience in the private sector and in government.

Cybersecurity

DHS' IG reports millions recovered from fraud

The Homeland Security Department's inspector general has recovered $228 million in fines and other payments by investigating complaints of alleged waste, fraud and abuse.

People

Blogging live: Confirmation hearing of GSA's Martha Johnson

Martha Johnson, the president's nominee for the top job at GSA, is testifying before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. We're live at the hearing, bringing the latest information on what's happening. Stay tuned.

People

Acquisition jobs a tough sell to would-be feds

The federal government should be an attractive place to work in these troubled times, but the bureaucracy still scares off would-be employees.