Acquisition

Reverse auctions: A bid for budget-conscious business

Reverse auctions, which have paid off in spades at State, could help other agencies looking to deal with tight IT budgets.

Acquisition

Lawmakers block contractor disclosure of political support

The Obama administration considered requiring political contribution information in contract bids, a proposal that raised a lot of concern in Congress and industry.

People

Managers, answer these questions before the Hill calls

GAO provides questions designed to check on a program's performance goals.

Acquisition

Acquisition cost savings: Geospatial agency to try new model

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency plans to launch a Managed Data Center Services Pilot to make IT buying easier.

People

IG warns that mandatory audits could strain resources

While setting statutory requirements, IGs need the authority to set their own priorities and point their resources where they are most needed.

People

Interior, GSA ask industry about incentives

Officials are asking industry serious questions about incentives that might entice the best companies and their best work.

Digital Government

SBA's Joe Jordan heads to OMB as special assistant

Top official's departure spins off new procurement role at OMB.

Digital Government

Defense Authorization nears passage

Industry groups concerned about some provisions in the DOD's authorizing legislation.

People

Officials demand contractor identification

Agencies should stop using generic contractor identifiers to provide greater transparency.

People

What makes an IT acquisition work?

GAO uncovered nine common characteristics in a number of successful IT acquisitions from across the government.

Acquisition

Obama signs withholding tax repeal

The passage ends a three-year effort by industry groups to get rid of a tax that was never actually enacted.

Acquisition

GAO challenges administration on contract savings

The Office of Management and Budget's estimated savings on contracting may be overstated, GAO says.

People

OMB orders cut in management services contracts

OMB has a goal of reducing spending on management support service contracts by 15 percent by the end of fiscal 2012.

People

OFPP, SBA team up on procurement data

The two agencies are aligning reporting efforts in order to provide more accurate data.

Acquisition

Next OFPP chief's priorities: Building, buying, rebalancing

Government buying needs the expertise of acquisition workers, official says.

Acquisition

Withholding tax repeal heads to president

Tax repeal on contractors sails through Congress and on to the White House.

Acquisition

Gordon: Senate provision would force insourcing

The Senate has proposed taking away from contractors all the jobs that are closely associated with inherently governmental functions.

Acquisition

How much discretion in punishing contractors should agencies have?

Some lawmakers want to make suspension or debarment of misbehaving contractors mandatory, but the outgoing OFPP head disagrees with the strategy.

Acquisition

OMB: Agencies must crack down on contractors

Agencies have not used suspension and debarment authorities effectively, Lew says

People

Administration says improper payments have decreased

The government lowered its overall improper payment error rate to 4.7 percent, down from 5.42 percent in 2009.