Acquisition

DOD requires faster payments to subcontractors

Defense procurement officials have added a clause to their contracts to get prime contractors to pay their small subcontractors faster, an effort the Obama administration is pushing.

People

IG raps SEC records management

SEC's IG reports several problems in the agency's records management program, but the agency says the auditors are downplaying recent improvements.

Acquisition

GSA wins award for small-business contracting

The Small Business Administration honored GSA for its success in awarding contracts to small firms in various categories.

Cybersecurity

DHS: Watchdog group misrepresented awards program

Cause for Action investigation targeted "excessive" spending on promotional and commemorative items, but DHS IG program "entails employee bonuses and performance incentives."

People

Every sheriff needs a deputy

No leader is complete without a strong right hand, and CIOs are no exception. Deputy CIOs, though less visible than their bosses, nonetheless play a vital role in managing agency technology.

Cybersecurity

DHS continues revising acquisition rules

Responding to IG pressure, the Homeland Security Department has been revamping its rules for awarding risky cost reimbursement contracts rather than safer fixed-price options.

People

USDA associate CIO moves to private sector

David Shearer will leave later this month to take a position with (ISC)2.

People

USDA offers buyouts to CIO employees

The Agriculture Department is trying to reduce its headcount as its budget tightens.

Cybersecurity

IG chides DHS for careless acquisition practices

A DHS technology acquisition program needs a change in status to make it subject to greater review, IG finds.

People

VA leaders defend chief of staff

Veterans Affairs leaders rebuff congressional calls for the removal of John Gingrich over his responsibility for spending abuses.

People

GAO confirms Medicare system vastly improved

A system the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services uses to provide data to users about their eligibility has shown marked progress in processing speed and reliability after upgrades, audit finds.

People

Military services falter on single-bid contract guidance

An audit finds that DOD agencies often award contracts to the only bidder without trying to expand competition, despite DOD's own guidance.

People

Abuse prevention for government charge cards becomes law

The president signed a bill that will put more controls on the use of government charge cards.

Acquisition

Agencies take action as GAO knocks strategic sourcing effort

After an audit found that agencies have made very little use of strategic sourcing, DOD and other agencies point to some reforms, pledge to make more.

People

GSA agrees to speed up system patches

GSA failed to comply with its own patching guidelines in three of the four systems examined, IG finds.

People

Departments missing chance to save big money

A pending report on four key agencies finds less than 5 percent of FY 2011 procurement was managed through strategic sourcing.

Acquisition

Industry resists government's push for low prices

The cheapest deal isn't always the best buy, industry advocates argue.

Digital Government

Senators challenge administration on layoff advice

The Obama administration's pledge to pay the legal fees of contractors who run into trouble for sequestration-related layoffs might not be legal.

People

VA cracks down on conference spending

The Veterans Administration has set new rules intended to prevent a repeat of the conference spending probe that culminated in its top human resources officer's resignation.

Modernization

GSA stands by cloud migration numbers

Despite recent criticism from the agency's inspector general, GSA officials believe their estimates of savings from a cloud migration are on target.