Five passing grades you need to lead the pack

Planning is critical for positioning your company to win new contracts, says Bob Lohfeld, CEO of the Lohfeld Consulting Group.

SBA proposed rule directs set-aside contracts to women-owned firms

A proposed rule is designed to help agencies award 5 percent of federal contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses.

DOD's reliance on commercial satellites hits new zenith

The military's ad hoc reliance on commercial satellites is prolonging efforts to meet warfighters' urgent demands for bandwidth.

SBA tries again to help women-owned businesses get contracts

The Small Business Administration today proposed a procurement set-aside rule that would give women business-owners more opportunities in federal contracting.

DHS kicks off Eagle II procurement

The Homeland Security Department is inviting interested bidders to attend a pre-solicitation conference on the Eagle II-Unrestricted IT services acquisition program.

SBA proposes subtraction rule to contracting goals

Agencies must subtract contract awards from small-business award totals if, even after the award, SBA concludes the firm isn’t eligible to be considered small

Fear and loathing over proposal to give competitive advantage to higher-paying contractors

Commenters roundly denounce an Obama administration proposal to give more weight in contracting decisions to companies that pay better. Read Editor Nick Wakeman's roundup.

Should better paying contractors have a competitive advantage?

Obama administration officials are considering a policy that would give preference to contractors who pay their employees higher wages, over Republican opposition.

House panel links acquisition reforms to people

After a year of hearings, the chairman of a House panel on Defense Department acquisition reforms says DOD must develop new regulations for hiring and building up a civilian acquisition workforce.

Defense ethics group names former OFPP administrator as director

Angela Styles named director of the Defense Industry Initiative on Business Ethics and Conduct.

Prove your value to avoid the axe, contracting expert says

The Obama administration is serious about acquisition reforms and cutting out waste so contractors will feel the heat.

DHS too timid with debarment hammer, IG says

DHS Inspector General Richard Skinner is accusing department acquisition officials of being "reluctant" to initiate debarment and suspension actions against contractors.

Huge size of DHS contractor workforce leaves senators 'astonished'

Sens. Lieberman and Collins say the huge size of DHS's contractor workforce is 'unacceptable, untenable and unsustainable.'

Senate bill takes aim at HUBZone fraud

The bill seeks to ensure that only eligible firms participate in the HUBZone program.

Army vows to cut 7,000 contractor jobs this year

Army Secretary John McHugh told a Senate committee that he plans to give outsourced jobs that are associated with inherently governmental functions to its civilian employees.

Unisys files new protest over lucrative TSA infrastructure contract

Unisys has filed another protest of the TSA Information Technology Infrastructure Program contract, but no one is talking. Editor-in-chief Nick Wakeman is wondering why.

Franken amendment sparks debate over government’s role in employee relations

Editor-in-chief Nick Wakeman invites you to join the discussion about the effect the Franken amendment will have on government contractors. Should the government withhold payment from companies that make employees sign arbitration clauses?

Franken amendment threatens to take funds from contractors

The fiscal 2010 Defense Department Appropriations Act prohibits contractors from getting that year’s money if they require employees to sign an arbitration clause.

10 tips to cracking GSA's Top 100

Marketing expert Mark Amtower offers his top 10 tips for generating more business on GSA's Schedule 70.

New GSA administrator vows better ideas, performance from her agency

The General Services Administration must know its clients, meet their needs through innovation and do it well, Martha Johnson, the new GSA administrator said in a speech after her swearing-in.