Acquisition

Putting clarity into contracting

How one agency addresses misunderstandings between agencies and contractors.

People

OFPP, SBA team up on procurement data

The two agencies are aligning reporting efforts in order to provide more accurate data.

Acquisition

Next OFPP chief's priorities: Building, buying, rebalancing

Government buying needs the expertise of acquisition workers, official says.

Acquisition

Withholding tax repeal heads to president

Tax repeal on contractors sails through Congress and on to the White House.

Acquisition

Gordon: Senate provision would force insourcing

The Senate has proposed taking away from contractors all the jobs that are closely associated with inherently governmental functions.

Modernization

Acquisition rules slowing down cloud procurements, federal IT execs say

Federal agency executives are facing some rough spots in managing the transition to cloud services environments, a panel of federal IT experts said today.

Acquisition

How much discretion in punishing contractors should agencies have?

Some lawmakers want to make suspension or debarment of misbehaving contractors mandatory, but the outgoing OFPP head disagrees with the strategy.

Acquisition

OMB: Agencies must crack down on contractors

Agencies have not used suspension and debarment authorities effectively, Lew says

People

Administration says improper payments have decreased

The government lowered its overall improper payment error rate to 4.7 percent, down from 5.42 percent in 2009.

Acquisition

What do supermarket cashiers, gas-station attendants and the dodo have in common?

At the National Contract Management Conference, Steve Kelman learns what procurement officials fear these days

Acquisition

Senate clamps down on contractors in sensitive jobs

An appropriations bill would require contracts to leave contractors out of work closely tied to inherently governmental functions.

Acquisition

Contracting out strikes out again among my students

A survey of Kelman’s public policy students shows declining supporting for contracting out government services.

Acquisition

Senate votes to kill 3 percent withholding tax

Lawmakers vote to repeal a tax that would keep back a percentage of payments made to contractors.

Acquisition

DOD dives deep into sole-source contracting data

Defense acquisition officials are scrutinizing the award of sole-source contracts worth $20 million or more, with a focus on deals awarded to Alaska Native Corporations.

Acquisition

Small-biz set-asides may harm firms, expert says

The plethora of small business programs has 'disenfranchised' many small businesses, yet the government is considering creating a new one.

Acquisition

GSA puts Advantage out for review

GSA upgraded its GSA Advantage! systems early in 2011, and now wants to make sure it's working at its best

Acquisition

Mark Day, CTO at HUD, heads to GSA

GSA brings in new director to oversee governmentwide IT contracts and strategic solutions operations.

Acquisition

HUBZone workforce model suggested for veterans

Companies with veterans on the payroll could get contracting benefits under new proposal

Acquisition

Senators want GAO probe of veteran-owned business program

Senate emphasize the critical need to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the Veterans Affairs Department's program to validate vet-owned small business.

Acquisition

Conflict-of-interest rules could expand

A final rule is set to take effect in December, but its scope could still be expanded.