Digital Government
Navy efficiency push seeks to save without cuts
The Navy's effiency plans will hinge on streamlining personnel, buying smarter and closely examining major programs, says Robert Work, the military service's under secretary.
Acquisition
Can we radically improve service contract management?
Steve Kelman proposes an experiment to test ideas for improving service contracts.
Acquisition
Bring accountability to contract protests
Government and industry need to take a new approach to procurement before bid protests spiral out of control, writes Jaime Gracia.
Acquisition
HUBZone program faces economic uncertainties
Without priority status, HUBZone companies might lose ground to more popular set-aside programs.
Acquisition
House committee to review SBA's management
The House Small Business Committee's chairman is looking for duplicative offices and programs that don't aid small businesses or protect the government.
Digital Government
Outsourcing, insourcing and partisanship: Lawmaker seeks cooperation, not conflict
Rep. Gerry Connelly (D-Va.) thinks IT management and procurement are issues Democrats and Republicans can embrace. He wants hearings on insourcing federal work and poaching contractors' employees.
Acquisition
DOD struggles to count contractors, GAO reports
The Defense Department relies heavily on contractors, even to support core missions, a GAO report says. Officials worry about relying too much on contractors.
People
New bill seeks federal workforce cuts, other spending reductions
Their bill would cut spending and reduce the size of the federal workforce by 15 percent.
Acquisition
Obama: Give small businesses regulatory break
Obama directed agency officials to consider the economic effects of federal regulations on small businesses.
Cybersecurity
Recommended reading
Beyond the server room in 2011, New Year's resolutions for vendors and a new approach to managing records.
People
How HUD's new CIO is remaking the agency
Housing and Urban Development Department CIO Jerry Williams' task has been to get the agency's IT department working at an optimal level after years of bogged-down projects and inefficiency. His team might be turning the corner.
Acquisition
Defense acquisition: Lost in the fog of war?
Changing combat needs and constrained budgets are complicating DOD's acquisition decisions.
People
Obama signs defense authorization bill
Lawmakers removed controversial provisions to ensure passage.
Acquisition
Officials urge vendor-neutral IT purchases
Officials have reminded agency purchasers about value-neutral IT purchases after a federal judge ruled that the Interior Department decided to buy software from Microsoft while other capable companies were interested in the work.
Modernization
Google wins: Interior forbidden to award noncompetitive contract to Microsoft
Interior Department officials began considering awarding a contract to Microsoft too early in the contracting process, judge writes.
People
DOD emphasizes education, requirements in acquisition reform
According to industry insiders, a new approach is essential for reforming DOD acquisition practices.
Digital Government
DOD gives new guidance on conflicts of interest
A new rule tells contracting officers to minimize the risk of conflicts of interests in a variety of ways without limiting the pool of potential advisers.
Acquisition
NIH agency tests waters with hybrid procurement
NIEHS is planning an enterprise IT services deal in which the contractor could provide support through a variety of procurement approaches.
Acquisition
IRS announces TIPSS-4 winners
TIPSS-4 contractors will provide support services to help the IRS maintain and update its large portfolio of legacy tax systems.
Acquisition