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

Army e-mail plan ignores AKO success

Consultant Robert Guerra says he doesn’t understand why the Army plans to spend more than $100 million on a new e-mail system when AKO does so much more.

Cybersecurity

After the spending bill: What now?

What will happen to the new insourcing policies, proposed federal pay freeze and agency IT budgets, now that the Senate omnibus funding bill has been withdrawn?

Acquisition

Senate has insourcing provision in spending bill

A major spending bill in the Senate would require agency officials to show their attempts to first convert jobs from contractors to federal employees before having the public and private sectors compete for the work.

People

Senate passes bill giving boost to Federal Acquisition Institute

Upgrading the institute and making sure it has enough money will ultimately lead to more effective oversight of government contracting, the measure's backers say.

People

Sold to the lowest bidder: Reverse auctions play cost-savings role for agencies

Interest grows in reverse auctions as agencies look for efficiency and cost savings.

Digital Government

DOD blacklist authority could go too far, say small-biz advocates

Small-business groups say the 2011 Defense Authorization bill would allow DOD officials to secretly blacklist contractors and bar them from doing any business with the federal government.

People

Why OMB’s IT reform plan just might work

Blogger Steve Kelman finds a lot to like in OMB’s new IT reform report.