People
Punch-out: Contractors vs. feds
President Barack Obama has raised a ruckus among FCW readers with his proposal to convert 33,500 defense contractor jobs to federal positions.
People
The federal workforce: Clerk vs. Businessman
The Obama administration is taking a positive view of the coming wave of retirements by federal employees.
People
Obama's emerging IT agenda could mean big changes
Experts say the new president is moving ahead with his ambitious agenda despite the financial meltdown and disease outbreak
People
Kundra's savings plan takes shape
The Obama administration inherited $71 billion worth of annual IT spending from the previous administration, and Vivek Kundra, the government’s chief information officer, will now take his whack at making that money count and holding agencies that spend it more accountable.
Cybersecurity
Can we trust evaluations?
The government could publish internal evaluations of contractor performance, but in many cases, they are not reliable guides.
Modernization
Napolitano wants millions for IT
Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano told a House committee today about DHS' plans to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in IT systems.
People
FCW Insider: Are feds more cost-effective than contractors?
A recent remark by Obama triggered a lengthy debate among readers about the relative value of in-house and contract staffers.
Modernization
Building work starts on SBInet
The construction of 17 permanent towers for the SBInet system at the border of Arizona and Mexico started May 4.
People
White House seeks cuts to defense contractor workforce
The Obama administration wants to save $900 million by reducing defense contractor employees and get $2 billion by collecting delinquent taxes from federal contractors.
Acquisition
IG finds conflict in the acquisition regulation
Officials question whether small-business set-asides should override giving all companies a chance to bid on a task or delivery order.
Acquisition
FCW Insider: The problem with publishing contractor performance data
Michael Lent, editor of Government Services Insider, questions the value of publishing contractor performance data publically available, given its dubious quality.
Acquisition
IG: Clearly define Alliant's scope
Auditors recommend putting more details in the Alliant ordering guide to cut down on the risk of repeating past problems.
Acquisition
FCW Insider: A Consumer Reports for contracting officials?
Some government contractors might address problems more quickly if negative performance reports were available to the public, a reader says.
Acquisition
FCW Insider: Should contractor performance data be public?
A reader wonders if the Obama administration’s transparency policy will include information on contractor performance scores.
People
Cyber leaders must coordinate to avoid conflicts
If the Obama administration has three separate offices guiding federal information technology, observers warn that they will need close coordination to avoid confusing overlap.
Acquisition
IG fights MAS panel recommendation
A GSA official says IG staffers, who opposes dropping the price reduction clause, is attempting to derail any efforts to carry out the panel’s recommendations.
People
DOD needs better workforce data
The Defense Department has, at best, a blurry picture of its government acquisition workforce’s skills, a hindrance to assessing its needs.
People
GSA schedules might get state, local business
Two new House bills would open the General Services Administration's Multiple Award Schedules contracts to state and local governments.
People
The hidden force in acquisition
Changing contracting priorities are elevating the position of the contracting officer’s technical representative.
People