Acquisition

For DOD, trust may be the key to cost savings

Unraveling a bureaucracy built on suspicion could be part of the cure for DOD's ills, study suggests.

Acquisition

Agencies told to ensure subcontractors get prompt payments

OMB is asking agencies to report on their progress at speeding up payments.

Acquisition

Prompt payments may become contract selection factor

The Obama administration uses federal contracts to get money to small subcontractors faster.

People

White House asks for money-saving tips

NASA lending libraries? A digital Federal Register? The Obama administration is asking for more ideas to save a little money for the government.

Acquisition

Suspension, debarment could turn more punitive under proposal

The FAR says that suspension and debarment are to be used only to protect the government, but the Labor Department is considering using them to penalize companies for disregarding Labor rules.

People

Obama's accountability board lays out streamlining strategy

The board aims to keep track of the government's money by linking systems together.

People

Treasury to set up Internet Payment Platform

Department officials wants to make payment processing easier for federal employees and federal contractors.

Digital Government

Bill would make bills single-minded

Sen. Rand Paul would like to end the practice of piggybacking legislation.

Acquisition

New rule could force inexperienced contractors onto agency projects

A proposed rule change intended to protect private-sector jobs could affect agency work, group fears.

People

White House, committee spar over acquisition workforce training funds

The Obama administration and a House committee are fighting over workforce development fund.

Acquisition

Agencies fail, again, to meet small-business contracting goals

Small businesses received $91.5 billion in prime contracts last year, falling short of the percentage supposed to go to them.

People

HHS deputy CIO given Vanguard Award

The Government Technology Research Alliance applauded John Teeter's efforts in the areas of increasing efficiency, interoperability and information sharing within the government CIO community.

People

DOD to improve tracking of late-payment penalties

GAO found that DOD has processes for monitoring and reporting on late payments, but it has serious flaws.

Cybersecurity

IG: DHS needs protection from employees' portable devices

Primarily for consumers, portable devices lack security features needed survive in a government environment.

Digital Government

A faster, better, cheaper way to do high-tech procurement?

Some experts question whether RFP-EZ is the right way to go about fixing the government’s IT procurement problems.

People

OMB wants government to be easier to deal with

The goal of regulatory reform is to reduce the burden on private organizations dealing with the government.

People

GAO: Funding ambiguity hinders hiring

Delays in collecting and then distributing workforce-support money causes uncertainty about spending the money to aid the acquisition workforce.

People

GSA IG gets $10M budget bump to watch travel, conference costs

The House Appropriations Committee has commended the IG with a $68 million budget for the coming year.

Digital Government

Commerce secretary resigns

Secretary cites medical issue as reason for his decision to leave.

People

Energy gets new CIO in July

The department's acting CIO to take on the position full time.