Acquisition
GSA's IG warns of risky acquisition support
As contracting increases and the acquisition workforce doesn't grow, agencies are looking for backup.
Acquisition
DOD, Army Corps of Engineers falter on subcontracting metrics
The two agencies fail to find a number of reports on whether prime contractors met their goals for awarding subcontracts.
Cybersecurity
Officials hope unique identifiers will sharpen procurement data reporting
Agencies may have to develop a unique identifier for their contracts and orders under a proposal meant to improve the quality of federal data.
People
Innovative NIH online purchasing system honored
National Institutes of Health's Purchasing Online Tracking System generates $1 million in savings a year by eliminating double data entry and reducing staffing and resource costs.
People
Unions fire back at Gates for insourcing about-face
The American Federation of Government Employees wants answers from Defense Secretary Robert Gates on how his plans to save DOD money will affect insourcing efforts and federal employees.
Acquisition
Another GSA monopoly issue?
Blogger Steve Kelman is skeptical about GSA’s tight hold on leasing authority in the federal government.
People
DOD officials concerned about awarding earmarked money
Defense procurement officials missed procurement fundamentals of competition and pricing when awarding earmarks, auditors find.
People
Insourcing failed, DOD's Gates says. Now what?
Insourcing didn't bring in the savings that DOD officials had planned or hoped for, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said.
People
Senators concerned about counterfeit parts
Recent reports on counterfeit electronics and IT products show increases in the number of incidents and inadequate policies to deal with the problem.
People
Contractors vs. staff: You do the math
The latest phase of the debate about the role of contractors in government shows that even the obvious is less obvious than it seems.
People
Proposed legislation targets abuse of veterans' small-business program
A congressman wants to protect the government’s small-business program for veterans by requiring federal officials to verify companies before letting them into the program.
Acquisition
Agencies form a GWAC force
Governmentwide acquisition contracts are working to combat the growth of other contracts, but they face a tough road ahead.
People
Agencies' unique coding systems hinder Recovery Act oversight, official says
The board that oversees money from the stimulus law ran into an old problem: agencies doing things their own way and forgetting about unity, official says.
Acquisition
Are agencies paying too much through the GSA schedule? Readers respond
Blogger Steve Kelman replies to some of the many comments he received on a recent post about the confusion surrounding GSA schedule pricing.
Digital Government
GAO hands down decision on Unisys bid protest
Decision by GAO clears the way for CSC to finally begin work on the $500 million TSA infrastructure contract.
Acquisition
GSA schedules: Are agencies paying too much?
Blogger Steve Kelman is looking to the procurement community for ideas on how to help agencies take full advantage of the General Services Administration's schedules.
People
Fake companies still win SBA approval
GAO tests SBA's set-aside program with fake companies that used the Alamo's address as their headquarters and still won certification.
People
Senate committee approves acquisition institute bill
The legislation would reorganize the Federal Acquisition Institute as it trains civilian agencies' contracting staff members.
Cybersecurity
Money pit: $3B in cost overruns for Coast Guard's Deepwater procurement
The Coast Guard's Deepwater asset procurement program has seen its costs skyrocket while its performance capabilities degrade, according to a new report from the GAO.
Acquisition