Acquisition

Recommended reading: Cybersecurity outrage, BlackBerry tips and more

Here is a roundup of interesting articles from around the Web this week.

People

FCW Insider: Overworked feds and acquisition reform

There's no getting away from it, readers say: The federal acquisition workforce is overworked and everybody's paying the price.

Acquisition

Forest Service contracts for stimulus support

The Forest Service awarded a purchase agreement to Government Contract Solutions for support services related to the agency's stimulus spending and oversight.

Acquisition

SBA: Once a HUBZone, always a HUBZone

Regulators have proposed requiring HUBZone businesses to keep their status throughout the competition for a set-aside contract.

Modernization

GSA signs agreement with Facebook

The agreement satisfies legal issues that barred federal agencies from using the social-networking Web site.

Modernization

Marine Corps seeks help in buying computers

Marine Corps officials want help from industry in developing a strategy for buying rugged and nonrugged computers.

Acquisition

IG: GSA fixed STARS oversight

The General Services Administration's inspector general says the agency is keeping a closer watch on large task orders awarded under its set-aside contract for small IT companies.

Modernization

Spy satellite tally could increase

The Obama administration supports a plan from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Defense Department to modernize the country's electro-optical satellites.

Acquisition

IG: DOD, NIH need to clean up GWAC deals

Contracting officials waste money by awarding task orders without adequate competition, DOD auditors found.

People

Martha Johnson may bring old era back to GSA

Current and former General Services Administration employees are excited about the new leadership Johnson would bring to the agency.

Modernization

FEMA seeks contractor for asset-tracking system

The agency has published an RFI looking for a contractor to develop and manage its asset-tracking system.

Modernization

OMB updates guidance for stimulus money

Federal agencies must track 41 data elements on spending under the economic stimulus law, new guidance says.

Modernization

Next-gen spy satellite network to be established

Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair and Defense Secretary Robert Gates signed a classified memo March 30 that would establish a program to build a multi-billion dollar, next-generation spy satellite network.

Cybersecurity

Senate security bill would put burden on contractors

The measure would require the licensing and certification of people who provide cybersecurity services to agencies.

People

Navy keeps EDS on hand for extended NMCI transition

The Navy, realizing the move to the Next Generation Enterprise Network program will take longer than originally expected, has awarded EDS a contract to maintain Internet services through NCMI.

People

Baker to focus on results as VA's CIO

The former Commerce Department chief information officer also was a technology adviser on Obama's transition team.

People

Alliant awarded

The decision to give the Alliant contract to essentially every company that bid isn’t sitting well with some company leaders.

People

Senate confirms Mills to head SBA

Karen Mills would help put SBA back on track to carry out its lending, technical assistance and entrepreneurship programs, a senator said.

Modernization

GAO: Delays, costs still problems at DOD

The Government Accountability Office has issued a report that cites continuing high development costs and long delays for Defense Department programs.

Modernization

Requirements published for stimulus reporting

Organizations getting grants and loans under the stimulus law must use standard data elements, OMB says.