Acquisition

Acquisition reform proves slow-going, panelists say

The current political environment makes agency officials wary of trying innovative contracting methods, according to a panel at the Executive Leadership Conference.

People

Contracting officers are easy target

Program managers are a large part of the problem with flawed contracts.

People

House seeks WAN services to connect reps, districts

The contract is not set aside for small businesses, but the House urges them to enter a proposal.

Acquisition

Grassley: Sun controversy a sign of deeper contracting problems

GSA officials take issue with the senator's perspective, saying the now-expired contract with Sun was "not the example of contracting irregularities that some have hoped."

People

GSA to award contract for evaluating financial shared-services providers

The agency plans to issue an RFP early next year for testing that shared-services providers are capable of implementing financial management systems.

People

Contracting officers need training in critical areas, survey finds

The survey, conducted by OFPP, OPM and other agencies, also finds that many of the best-trained contracting officers are likely to retire in the next 10 years.

People

GAO: DHS relies too much on contractors

DHS is paying billions to professional service contractors to perform tasks that are similar to work usually reserved for government employees, officials said today.

People

Army seeks new contracting software

Two Army contractors are currently conducting a business case analysis to determine whether the service should move to a new system or keep the old one.

People

Next up for strategic sourcing: IT services

The administration's strategic-sourcing initiative will now include help-desk support, seat management and related services, OFPP's Denett said.

People

Denett: Proposed bills include "poison pills" for competitive sourcing

Provisions in several bills would make it difficult for federal employees and private companies to compete fairly for government work, said the administration's top procurement official.

Acquisition

NIH seeks enterprise Web content system

The agency wants something that can integrate with existing systems in a diverse IT environment.

People

SBA looks beyond small businesses to modernize systems

An agency official said SBA is willing to listen to any vendor that can offer a solution for modernizing and managing its loan management and accounting systems.

Acquisition

Top 20 contracts feds like to use

The 20 most-used government IT contracts

Acquisition

States get SmartBuy discounts

SafeBoot extends USDA’s discount prices for encryption to state, local governments

Acquisition

IG warns against year-end spending frenzy at IRS

At IRS, hurried spending leads to wasteful errors

People

Meet Mr. Procurement Policy

Robert Burton sets directions for OFPP and steers governmentwide acquisition

Acquisition

Editorial: Fixing the spree

We are two weeks into the new fiscal year, and nearly everyone is recovering from the annual end-of-year spending spree.

People

FBI turns to small businesses for IT support

The agency is looking for contractors to design and support automated IT systems on its mainframes and computers.

Acquisition

Kelman: The art of negotiation

Many contracting officials are showing business savvy on behalf of the government. GSA should help them.

People

Ninth House hires VP for Federal Division

James Thorpe joins the company from IBM.