Acquisition

Letter: Basic information in acquisitions goes a long way

Contract specialists need to be encouraged to makethemselves operationally knowledgeable about what they are procuring so that the method of acquisition and the subsequent management of the contract are complementary to the requirement.

People

IBM case: A question of due process

Agencies were unaware of the suspension while investigators followed procedures.

Acquisition

Buzz of the Week: GWACs on the downswing

Governmentwide acquisition contracts slow

People

Letter: Taxpayers lose under many agency-oriented contracts

The fed should be unifying, consolidating, and integrating its sprawling acquisition enterprise to save resources.

Acquisition

Letter: Vets GWAC could be used more

With well-qualified teams of companies bound together to meet IT mission requirements, one may have to look beyond his or her agency's specific mission needs to meet socioeconomic mandates.

People

Get a Life!: Airline misery

None

Modernization

FDA seeks regular mark downs

The agency wants to receive monthly volume discounts as part of an IT services contract.

People

Contractors are here to stay

One scholar argues that government must rely on contractors or reduce its mission.

People

Kelman: The not-so-obvious lesson

A tale of procurement woe shows that contracting officials need to be trusted business advisers.

People

Officials request agencies' strategic-sourcing reports

Acquisition officials seek numbers to gain support for the buying strategy.

Acquisition

Letter: Vendor turmoil is not unique to U.S.

A reader points out that Canada is dealing with its own contracting issues.

People

Letter: Lifting IBM’s suspension was the right move

One reader has worked with or competed against IBM for 30-plus years, and he believes the company is rigorous about following the rules.

People

Letter: IBM sales figure is misleading

A reader says the company’s sales to the government exceed $1.5 billion when you consider indirect sales through other contractors.

People

Letter: Is IBM off the hook?

A reader says the government’s reversal of its ban on IBM shows a failure to adjudicate.

Modernization

FOSE: Abuzz about info strategies

Here are some highlights from the FOSE Exposition and Conference that brought federal officials and company executives together for three days of networking and education.

People

IBM is back, but what happened?

EPA pulls the computer giant out of limbo after the parties quickly reach an agreement.

People

Buzz of the Week: Blue week for Big Blue

Blue week for Big Blue

Acquisition

EPA lifts suspension of IBM

IBM, under contract suspension by EPA, agrees to concessions.

People

DHS seeks to bring more small-biz dollars to veterans

The department hopes that the PACTS contract will help it reach its procurement goals for disadvantaged businesses

Acquisition

Debate over contractors continues

Lawmakers foresee no easy solutions to concerns about acquisition outsourcing