Ideas

VA acquisitions asks vendors to show their work

COMMENTARY: The principle of "do, don't say" could be catching hold at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Ideas

A bittersweet birthday party for the Office of Federal Procurement Policy

Steve Kelman worries that the Biden administration is steering federal buyers away from best-value goals.

Ideas

An innovator at DHS

Steve Kelman spotlights digital transformation expert Scott Simpson of the Procurement Innovation Lab at the Department of Homeland Security

Ideas

Checking in on digital government in China

COMMENTARY | Steve Kelman writes that an online system for registering complaints and comments about government services has its roots in China's imperial past.

Ideas

Touching base with some young contracting officers

COMMENTARY | Steve Kelman connects with up-and-coming federal procurement officials.

Ideas

Getting better deals for the government

COMMENTARY | Steve Kelman explains that common sense has often had a tough time getting accepted in debates about procurement policy.

Ideas

Driving innovation from the middle

COMMENTARY | NASA's Jennifer Elkins is an example of how senior civil servants can affect change in large organizations.

Ideas

Remembering reinventing government 30 years later

Commentary | Steve Kelman remembers how Al Gore's Reinventing Government effort helped change federal procurement.

Ideas

Keep the focus in procurement on best value products and services for the government

Commentary | Steve Kelman argues that the current cornerstone of Part 1 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation is the right one for taxpayers and agencies.

Ideas

From Shanghai to a Senate-confirmed government post

COMMENTARY | Steve Kelman presents the story of another fed who’s been around for years since leaving the Kennedy School.

Ideas

Great job, US Embassy in Beijing

COMMENTARY | Steve Kelman cheers an Independence Day message that touted American-style freedom to a Chinese language audience.

Ideas

We like to think we are best at digital, but maybe not

COMMENTARY: Steve Kelman thinks the United States could learn a few things about technology-enhanced infrastructure from Europe and China.

Ideas

The long-time civil servant on the front lines of the default battle

Dave Lebryk is not widely known to the public but the Treasury official occupies a critical spot when it comes to measuring the daily cash position of the federal government.

Ideas

From Harvard to Ukraine

Steve Kelman catches up with a former student whose work has taken him to the front lines of U.S. efforts to curb nuclear proliferation.

Ideas

Turning a page

Steve Kelman reflects on his impending retirement.

Ideas

Is the Biden administration's management agenda getting back on track?

On the federal contracting front, reforms seem to be working better in practice than in theory.

Ideas

Why formal government communications work better than informal ones

A study looks at how expectations of government style influence how citizens respond to messaging.

Ideas

Okay boomers—listen up!

Steve Kelman remembers the savage beats of the great Tom Lehrer.

Ideas

Dissenting from our toxic political culture

Steve Kelman says it's important in this highly partisan era to find points of disagreement with one's own party.

Ideas

Remembering Professor Carter

Steve Kelman reflects on the former defense secretary's life in government and academia.