Digital Government

Study finds past performance puts burden on contractors

Many agencies that are using vendor pastperformance ratings to evaluate bids have turned the application of this evaluation factor into a bureaucratic exercise that may be thwarting the Office of Federal Procurement Policy's intent in promoting it, a consultant's study has found. Sandra Baxter, pr

Digital Government

Part 15 rewrite sparks old debate

The upcoming rewrite of Part 15 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is likely to rekindle debate over how much flexibility contracting officers should have when negotiating with vendors in competitive procurements. Many contracting officials contend that Part 15, which sets the rules for co

Digital Government

GAO questions long-term success

The 2yearold reorganization of the Office of Management and Budget brought closer attention to agency management issues in 1995 according to the General Accounting Office but it is questionable if this new emphasis will last beyond the current administration. Based on interviews with more than se

Digital Government

Senate offices set to offer Web access to employees

The Senate has given its employees access to the World Wide Web, its latest effort to keep pace with technology being used by the private sector. Each Senate office will determine which staff members in Washington, D.C., and offices throughout the country will be linked to this expanding section of

Digital Government

New policy pushes pacts to SDBs

The Defense Department has proposed a new policy to promote contract awards to small, disadvantaged businesses (SDBs) that would expand the use of price preferences for these firms and grade prime contractors on their work with minority and womanowned suppliers. The proposed amendment to the Defe