Author Archive

Nick Wakeman

Editor-in-Chief, Washington Technology

Nick Wakeman
Nick Wakeman is the editor-in-chief of Washington Technology and joined the publication in 1996 as a staff writer. He's a graduate of Bridgewater College and earned a masters degree from American University. When he isn't writing about government contractors, he's thinking of cooking large pieces of meat over fire and dreaming of ways to embarrass his two sons. Follow him on Twitter: @nick_wakeman
Acquisition

Groundswell claims the Army wanted Accenture to win the $1B EBS-C competition

The company's lawsuit alleges the evaluation process was changed midstream to favor Accenture for the contract to consolidate several Army business and logistics systems.

Acquisition

Industry execs weigh potential impacts of presidential transition

A group of senior leaders at government contractors outline the challenges and opportunities they see in a second Trump term.

Acquisition

The knowns and unknowns of a second Trump administration

Some priorities such as cyber and artificial intelligence are likely not changing, but we will watch the transition for what else might impact government contractors.

Digital Government

Former federal tech leaders share transition wisdom ahead of 2024 election

Despite changing administrations, experts say technology priorities remain constant while emphasizing importance of communication and workforce development.

Acquisition

Groundswell challenges Army's award of business system consolidation contract

In its protest at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, Groundswell is questioning how the Army stuck with long-time incumbent Accenture Federal Services for the project.

Breaking News Cybersecurity

CMMC's final rule has now landed

Several other regulatory steps and Congress' 60-day period to review the defense industrial base's new cybersecurity standard still loom before it takes effect.

Acquisition

ODNI told to redo financial management contract

The Government Accountability Office looked at Guidehouse's protest against the award and found inconsistencies in how proposals were evaluated for this contract that supports the entire intelligence community.

Defense

DOD unveils proposed final rule for CMMC contracting

A phased rollout of the cybersecurity standard should begin in early 2025, with varying compliance levels and increased program office discretion.

Artificial Intelligence

Balancing innovation and safety: Inside NIST’s AI Safety Institute

The institute's director Elizabeth Kelly details efforts to test models and create guidance to encourage responsible artificial intelligence use.

Acquisition

Complaints mount about NITAAC's slow payment plan for CIO-SP4 protests

ANALYSIS | Many of the companies who won protests over the CIO-SP4 contract still have not been reimbursed for their costs and they are not happy about it.

Acquisition

FBI says it has awarded $7B ITSSS-2 pact

The award notice lacks an actual list of winners, but does have 31 companies in the full-and-open track and 64 in the small business group.

Acquisition

Pre-award protests cleared in FBI's $7B IT services pact

The Government Accountability Office rejects the last pre-award protest involving this blanket purchase agreement for IT services and supplies.

Acquisition

T4NG2 protests grow to 14 with more possible

A dozen companies have gone to the court with questions over how the Veterans Affairs Department evaluated proposals for the $61 billion technology modernization contract vehicle.

Cybersecurity

Nearly 300 comment on proposed CMMC rule

The Defense Department now has to process and respond to the comments before it issues the final version of the industry-wide rule in the fall.

Acquisition

CIO-SP4 faces more court challenges

In the meantime, the National Institutes of Health's IT acquisition arm has extended the current contract into the fall.

Acquisition

Veterans Affairs to again rethink $400M file conversion contract

GovCIO continues to challenge VA's choice of General Dynamics IT and the department has opted to look at the award again.

Acquisition

Protests restart over CIO-SP4

ANALYSIS | Just like last year, companies are complaining about the self-scoring methodology being used to eliminate them from the competition.

Acquisition

FBI to rethink troubled IT services contract

After several rounds of protests and amendments, the FBI is reworking parts of the solicitation for a group of blanket purchase agreements.

Acquisition

Protest over OASIS+ pricing data access falls short

ANALYSIS | Boston Consulting Group claimed it did not need to provide that information on certain items in its bid for the government-wide professional services vehicle.

Acquisition

Protests persist for FBI's long-delayed $5B IT contract

ANALYSIS | History looks to be repeating itself as the FBI keeps facing protests after each downselect phase and elimination of bidders.