People
Procurement office to agencies: Business cases, interagency contracts go hand-in-hand
Agencies would be required to develop a business case before launching a multi-agency contract under a guidance from the Office of Federal Procurement Policy expected later this summer.
Digital Government
Pentagon tightens reins on contractors
The Defense Department wants its contractors to cut their costs as part of a larger DOD strategy to maintain its power as budgets decline.
Digital Government
Government efficiency: It's not about the light bulbs
Readers answer the question: "How many feds does it take to change a light bulb?"
People
Don't cut corners on insourcing transitions
Agencies need to transition positions without losing institutional knowledge, writes Peter G. Tuttle, CPCM.
People
The case for more acquisition training options
The Department of Veterans Affairs' Jan Frye explains the rationale behind VA's Acquisition Academy.
People
Orszag's departure expected to have little effect on IT, acquisition
Information technology initiatives, acquisition policies are stable issues and won't feel much from the turmoil of OMB leadership changes, experts say.
Acquisition
New SBA deputy administrator confirmed by Senate
Marie Collins Johns will be the second-ranking official at the Small Business Administration, with responsibilities for management, policy development and program supervision.
Acquisition
DOD bills put focus on acquisition, insourcing
In their respective defense authorization bills, the House and Senate are attempting to end quotas and limit cost-comparison factors while strengthening acquisition processes.
People
When is a position inherently governmental?
One-size-fits-all rules and definitions that direct all agencies on what jobs are inherently governmental functions don’t work, experts say.
People
House passes bill to improve program performance
The bill would strengthen the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 and would put parts of an executive order on performance management into law.
People
EPA has three-pronged strategy for correcting procurement woes
A new contract writing system, developing the agency's acquisition workforce and finding savings are their top priorities, EPA officials say. They also acknowledge problems with procurement data.
People
Federal procurement officials not ready for Web 2.0, survey says
Federal procurement professionals estimate they can save $158 billion by using more efficient processes, but most are not ready for Web 2.0 technologies, according to a new survey.
People
Inherently governmental: Still a trick question
Response to the Obama administration's insourcing agenda finds readers all over the political map.
People
Acquisition 2.0: How much industry collaboration is too much?
The debates about the merits of Acquisition 2.0 will be familiar to anyone who has been following the twists and turns of procurement reform during the past decade or two.
People
Acquisition training: The battle lines are drawn
A blog post about an innovative approach to workforce mentoring stirred up some bitter feelings between acquisition workers old and new.
Acquisition
Good news: Progress on strategic sourcing
The General Services Administration’s new strategic sourcing agreements for office supplies makes good business sense, writes blogger Steve Kelman.
Digital Government
DOD ethics officers warn of interest conflicts from insourcing
Officials will have to monitor potential conflicts closely as new feds work near their old jobs, ethics officers say.
Acquisition
GSA client support centers earn good marks from auditors
Three audits found the client support centers in GSA's Southeast Sunbelt, Mid-Atlantic and National Capital regions compliant with the Federal Acquisition Regulation, as well as the Defense Department's procurement requirements.
Digital Government
‘Inherently governmental’ remains a sticky wicket
The Office of Federal Procurement Policy is getting closer to adopting a final rule that contains a clearer definition of what constitutes an “inherently governmental” function—i.e., one that should be done only by federal employees. But judging from the comments filed on the proposed rule, no one is completely thrilled.
People