Acquisition

OFPP and the dangers of politicizing procurement

Experts say the next OFPP administrator must not bring campaign rhetoric to the job.

Acquisition

Mixed metrics fog DOD's workforce fixes

DOD recorded information on insourcing and created its strategic workforce plans in different ways, hindering any real comparion.

People

House committee scolds SBA on modernization delays

SBA is modernizing its outdated loan management and accounting system, which was built in the 1970s on COBOL.

Acquisition

New bills aim to strengthen small-biz contracting

The House Small Business Committee continues to propose legislation aimed at helping small firms do federal business.

Acquisition

Veteran small-business bill would mandate use of fraud-prevention site

Under new legislation, agencies would have to search the Veterans Affairs Department’s VetBiz database before awarding a contract

People

Imagine that: Government can learn a thing or two from industry

VA's Michele Foster believes vendors have a lot to offer, but only if they are given the opportunity to share.

People

Will senators pay attention to OFPP nominee?

Joe Jordan is poised to step into Dan Gordon's role as leader of the OFPP, but it could be too close to election time for the Senate to act.

Acquisition

House members introduce flood of small-business legislation

Insourcing, agency advocates, budget cuts, raised contracting goal: The legislation continues to pour out of the House. But will it go anywhere?

Acquisition

Bill would have feds feel the bite of missed contracting goals

Government officials would suffer if their agency comes up short on a small-business goal, under proposed legislation.

Acquisition

Agencies that miss small-biz goals could face penalties

Under a new bill, a department that misses a small-business contracting goal could lose money from the next year's budget.

Acquisition

Small business advocate raises reverse auction concerns

SBA's Office of Advocacy wants OFPP to clearly tell the acquisition workforce to follow regulations on set-asides.

Digital Government

Obama nominates chiefs for policy, readiness, acquisition

The president nominates three senior Defense Department officials to fill key management positions.

Acquisition

Industry group warns against mandates for small-biz opportunities

Small contractors would suffer if regulators adopt guidance that replaces agencies’ flexibility, trade group says.

Modernization

Agencies' data gaps hinder GSA travel program analysis

GSA provides discounted airline tickets for federal employees on official business, but doesn't have access to a lot of travel information.

People

IT acquisition: Pay less now, more later

Acquisition officials, wary of budget scrutiny, are finding it difficult to resist the temptation of low pricing, whatever the long-term costs.

Acquisition

Sequestration makes contractors into 'hostages': Panel

As agencies scramble to cut costs under sequestration, contractors should expect to be squeezed too.

People

Zients to become acting OMB director

Zients takes over at OMB for Jacob Lew, who was chosen as the president's chief of staff.

People

Resource centers boost competition for secret contracts

A classified site similar to FedBizOpps makes it easier for intell agencies to find contractors.

Acquisition

Don't celebrate withholding tax repeal just yet

While agencies aren't planning to hold back funds anymore, the government still seeks ways to collect delinquent taxes from contractors.

People

With OMB and OFPP heads gone, can the administration agenda advance?

Two top leaders of OMB and OFPP are stepping down within a month of each other. What's the impact?