People

GAO: Agencies didn't consider risks with support services

Few officials considered risks when awarding contracts that closely supported inherently governmental functions.

People

GAO: OMB misses key areas needing oversight

OMB missed two key types of support services in recent oversight initiatives, GAO says.

People

GSA demands security plans from IT companies

Companies now must submit an IT security plan to GSA.

Cybersecurity

Beyond Deepwater: What the Coast Guard learned.

A difficult program could become a platform for better choices next time, with lessons that other agencies can also use.

Acquisition

Industry group argues against expanded conflict-of-interest rules

The Professional Services Council argues that agencies are already doing well at preventing and resolving problems.

Acquisition

New rule corrects contracting misunderstandings

New rules address time-and-materials contracts, require publication of contractors' work histories and attack abuses of interagency contracts.

Digital Government

Gordon: Focus on workforce, smarter buying

Dan Gordon, former OFPP administrator, offers insights on what still needs attention in procurement.

Acquisition

OMB wants small purchases going to small firms

The Small Business Jobs Act requires an analysis of small-business participation in governmentwide commercial purchase card micro-purchases.

Acquisition

OFPP wants agencies tracking details on service contracts

Officials want to have a way to check on the contractor-to-federal employee ratio.

Modernization

VA mulls moving telecomm to the cloud

The Veterans Affairs Department is asking for industry input on the feasibility of ditching its PBX in favor of cloud-based telephony.

Acquisition

GAO: GSA reports fuzzy numbers on strategic sourcing savings

Strategic sourcing contracts save money, but considerably less than GSA claims, GAO concludes.

Acquisition

Congress clarifies 'critical function' definition

The fiscal 2012 National Defense Authorization Act may provide a little more clarity to the blurry term of “critical function.”

Acquisition

Gordon optimistic GAO will remove interagency contracting from high-risk list

Gordon has met with GAO to talk about how OMB has addressed the issues that put interagency contracting onto the high-risk list in the first place.

People

'Shared First:' Progress made, more work needed, Gordon says

The procurement community had its ways to share the workload, but few used them, says outgoing OFPP administrator Dan Gordon.

Modernization

VanRoekel: Citizens expect more digital interaction with government

With the emergence of a Facebook Nation, Americans have come to expect more digital interaction with their government, says Obama's chief information officer.

People

Nine initiatives that could trip up DOD's enterprise strategy

Defense Department officials acknowledge that some elements of its IT strategy represent high cultural barriers.

Acquisition

Air Force divisions pledge to fight fraud, contractor misconduct

Air Force officials intend to formalize relations between the organizations and have them planning and training together.

People

Defense Authorization bill clears Congress

President Obama had earlier seemed poised to veto bill over prisoner detainment provisions, but now looks ready to sign.

Acquisition

Reverse auctions: A bid for budget-conscious business

Reverse auctions, which have paid off in spades at State, could help other agencies looking to deal with tight IT budgets.

Acquisition

Lawmakers block contractor disclosure of political support

The Obama administration considered requiring political contribution information in contract bids, a proposal that raised a lot of concern in Congress and industry.