State plans small-business competition for data center consolidation

The State Department plans to award a task order for help with its data center consolidation program.

Agencies plan small-business outreach

Commerce Department and Small Business Administration officials plan more than 200 events before mid-October.

U.K. agency updates model contract for IT services

A United Kingdom government agency has published its latest version of a model contract for public-sector information technology procurements.

Federal future cloudy for Microsoft Word

Agencies are wondering how a court's ruling banning Microsoft from selling Word will affect their procurement plans.

NIH acquisition chief puts focus on customer service

The center cut its assisted acquisition services and aimed those resources at customer service, manager says.

Former EPA official wants to bring new IT to government

In her new role at CGI Federal, Molly O’Neill plans to draw on her past experience with issues such as data sharing and Web 2.0.

GSA plans more small businesses contracts

GSA expects the mentoring program to increase the number of small businesses getting its contracts and subcontracts.

Contractors urged to show no fear when doing business with VA

The Veterans Affairs Department is struggling with a 26-percent vacancy rate in its acquisition staff, Deputy Secretary W. Scott Gould said today as he outlined a new "corporate" approach to the buying process.

Court ruling puts brakes on sales of Microsoft Word

Microsoft's loss in a patent dispute with Toronto-based i4i LP means that it will have to stop selling Microsoft Word in U.S. markets. The issue concerns the use of "custom XML" in Word in the Microsoft Office 2003 and Microsoft Office 2007 productivity suites.

Pragmatics wins contract to support bank regulator

Pragmatics has won a $23.2 million contract to support administrative and bank supervision systems for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

DOD can't run without contractors, DISA director says

Lt. Gen. Carroll Pollett, director of the Defense Information Systems Agency, reiterated the importance of the contract workforce to DISA at an industry presentation Aug. 7, especially, he said, as the agency faces moving its staff to Fort Meade next year.

NIH readies $20 billion opportunity

The National Institutes of Health has released a sources sought notice and draft request for proposals for the third generation of its Chief Information Office--Solutions and Partners contract.

Changes afoot for NetCents 2

Gregory Garcia, director of the 754th Electronic Systems Group, which oversees the Air Force’s Network Centric Solutions contract, talks about the strategy behind NetCents-2 and his expectations for the new contract.

Security upgrades highlight DISA buying surge

The Defense Information Systems Agency plans to bolster security features embedded in its far-flung networks and data centers via several acquisition projects planned for the twilight of fiscal 2009.

11 signs of a dangerous customer relationship

This reader-supplied checklist might help you decide if you are headed down a wrong path.

New law helps NIST hire experts

NIST says the Competes Act is helping the agency hire experts for short-term jobs, the GAO says.

Warning! Are you too close to your customer?

In hindsight red flags are easy to spot, but how do you spot trouble before it begins?

Contractor controversy: An illegal relationship or good business?

The relationship between a contractor and a customer is fraught with real and perceived dangers.

Regulators urged to lighten up on award-fee rules

Agencies urged regulators to avoid more burdensome rules and reporting requirements to see whether contractor award fees work.

Report: VA lax in maintaining contract-management system

The Veterans Affairs Department isn't using its electronic contract-management system effectively, a new report says.