Acquisition
VA officials toughen small business rules
A new rule defines the eligibility requirements for businesses to get verified status as a veteran-owned small business
Acquisition
Bill would increase oversight of prime-subcontractor relations
The bill would pressure companies to keep a clean performance record by paying subcontractors on time.
People
Senate confirms Martha Johnson as GSA administrator
The Senate voted to confirm Johnson after Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) overrode a hold placed on her nomination by Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.) that had stalled the nomination since June 2009.
Acquisition
Senators push for more small-business contracts
New legislation would require agencies to think about small businesses and reconsider bundled contracts.
Acquisition
Lieberman urges confirmation of nominee to lead GSA
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) has urged his colleagues to end debate on the nomination of Martha Johnson to be the General Services Administration’s administrator and confirm her as soon as possible.
People
Obama proposes expanding acquisition workforce
The administration says the government's spending has doubled, but the size of the workforce has remained generally constant.
Acquisition
Army let contractor get too involved in program, IG says
DOD's IG found that a company helped develop a contract and then bid on it.
Acquisition
Bid protest numbers increased during fiscal 2009
Protesters filed more complaints with the Government Accountability Office about agency contracting decisions in fiscal 2009 than in the previous four years.
Digital Government
Three named to top GSA contract posts
ITS assistant commissioner Ed O'Hare fills vacancies to oversee governmentwide acquisition contracts, schedules and acquisition operations
Acquisition
Did CDC violate contract rules? Agency, auditors disagree
The HHS inspector general is accusing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of violating federal acquisition rules prohibiting personal services contracts, while CDC's director insists no violation has occurred.
Modernization
Census CIO counts on future tech
Despite public missteps related to technology, Brian McGrath says the Census Bureau is poised to be an innovation trailblazer for government.
Acquisition
GSA disaster recovery program could open doors, expert says
Growing sales in the disaster recovery program could help to sway legislators to open all GSA schedules contracts for cooperative purchasing.
Acquisition
GSA Blues: Nowhere to go but up
The General Services Administration, the government’s premier procurement agency, has been left adrift for a year with no permanent administrator and a number of key departures.
Acquisition
GSA disaster recovery program gains momentum
Companies reported their highest quarterly sales increases from July to September 2009.
People
Insourcing is about strategy, not numbers
Contractors help the government fill a critical gap, and that gap must be the central focus of any debate on insourcing and managing a blended workforce, writes Jaime Gracia.
Acquisition
GAO officials offer acquisition reform basics
The Government Accountability Office has some advice for federal agencies about selecting contract types to protect the government's interests.
Acquisition
President orders clampdown on tax-delinquent contractors
The presidential memo directs federal officials and Congress to improve information sharing in order to block delinquent companies from receiving new awards.
Acquisition
House bill would punish users of front companies
A new bill in the House would penalize people who set up a company as a front to another business to get a government contract.
People
Transportation Department attempts to fix suspension delays
The department has struggled to make decisions on whether to exclude companies from federal work and then notify its various offices about the decisions.
People