Acquisition
Want better contracts? Get creative.
Cost-reimbursement and fixed-priced contracts are just two ends of the contracting spectrum, writes Ray Bjorklund, senior vice president and chief knowledge officer at Deltek FedSources.
Acquisition
Outsourcing vs. insourcing: Solving the cost-comparison conundrum
A new report offers guidelines for sizing up the costs of public and private sector work.
People
VA’s Baker: Commercial software is often the best option
Agencies cannot afford to develop proprietary technology when commercial software is so readily available, said the VA CIO.
Acquisition
Public/private competitions come under fire again
Sen. Mikulski is pushing for changes that would give federal employees a better fighting chance against outsourcing.
Acquisition
Why procurement reform hinges on industry help
Innovations in procurement require innovations in how government communicates with industry, writes Jaime Gracia, president and CEO of Seville Government Consulting.
Digital Government
The fiery debate over contractor salaries
A labor union has proposed capping contractor salaries. Here's what FCW readers think about this recommendation.
People
Committee wants checks on defense industry's supply chain
A House committee's defense authorization bill would require defense officials to research where they're getting their supplies in the global marketplace.
Acquisition
House hearing heats up over contractor disclosure order
Members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee put an administration official in the hot seat over a proposed draft order on disclosing federal contractor political contribution.
Acquisition
Hoyer won't back administration's proposal on political contributions
House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer disagrees with the Obama administration's plan to make companies include political contribution information with all bid proposals.
Acquisition
House panel proposes adding experts to competitive sourcing
House officials want a broader segment of senior DOD officials involved in the process that pits the private sector against the public sector for government work.
Acquisition
IRS postpones 3 percent withholding tax on contractors
The Internal Revenue Service has delayed enforcing a regulation to requiring the government to withhold 3 percent of nearly all of companies’ contract payments.
Acquisition
Analysts see dynamic, changing defense industry
A new study says the defense industrial base isn't consolidating into a select few mega-companies that would get all of DOD's business.
Cybersecurity
DHS acquisition oversight has holes, IG report says
DHS' inspector general found that some component agencies are making acquisitions more complex and costly than necessary.
Acquisition
DOD's 'Hello, I am a contractor' policy kicks in
Defense Department officials changed the department's regulations to require service contractors to identify themselves as a contractor, whether in person or in a letter.
Acquisition
How mushy mangoes can enlighten acquisition employees
Without a robust past-performance system, a lot of the incentive for better vendor performance disappears, writes columnist Steve Kelman.
Acquisition
Shifting market keeps DOD alert for conflicts of interest
As big defense contractors acquire other companies, officials must pay close attention to avoid conflicts of interest, a DOD official says.
Digital Government
Feds want more detailed info on contractors' time, costs
Officials work to draw a clearer picture of the blended workforce through reports on service contracts.
People
Procurement data woes: Public lashings probably won't help
A proposed policy to penalize VA contracting officers might not get the desired results, experts say.
Acquisition
DOD to negotiate prices more aggressively
DOD officials are telling contracting officials to bargain prices down, even when there's only one bidder for a contract.
People