New law helps NIST hire experts

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

RFPs in the works for health exchange networks

The SSA is on track to award $24 million in contracts to help health care providers link to the Nationwide Health Information Network.

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.

Biometric requirement could make E-Verify worth billions

Sen. Charles Schumer wants to add biometrics to E-Verify, which would create a multibillion-dollar business opportunity.

CDC hammers out new source selection rules

The Centers for Disease Control is inviting prospective vendors to participate in an advisory process before publishing a solicitation for a major information technology contract, anticipated in September.

Contractor award fees paid inconsistently, GAO says

Federal agencies are not being consistent in how they distribute contractor award fees, according to a senior GAO official.

Don't make E-verify retroactive, industry group says

The Professional Services Council opposes Senate legislation would require federal contractors to use the E-Verify system for new and existing employees.

Do contracting officials often skirt procurement rules? Experts disagree.

Experts today reacted to reports of inappropriate procurement activities at the Homeland Security Department by saying it was unclear whether such actions are common at other federal agencies.

DHS officials had improper communications in four procurements

DHS officials had inappropriate communications and committed other improprieties in four procurements, according to a new report.

OMB to agencies: Start contractor reforms

OMB issued three memos today that outline $40 billion in savings on contract spending. It told agencies to cut seven percent from their budgets for contractors.

Coast Guard contracts chief plans major overhaul

The new head of the Coast Guard acquisitions unit said he wants to make permanent the relationships between the new unit and the Homeland Security and Defense departments.

E-Verify system can't detect ID theft, witnesses say

Former agency officials told a Senate subcommittee that the E-Verify system for employment verification cannot detect identity theft.

DHS another step closer to departmentwide debarments

DHS on July 16 published a new interim rule on suspensions and debarments for nonprocurement-related entities.

DHS defends sole-source software buy

The Homeland Security Department has published a justification for awarding a $782,000 sole-source software contract for risk-assessment software services.

E-Verify provision for contractors required by Senate

The Senate passed a provision to require federal contractors to use the E-Verify program on the same day DHS announced that contractors must use the program starting Sept. 8.

SAIC faces challenge in False Claims defense

SAIC claims the lawsuit is false, but one expert says that the company is playing a game of chicken with the Justice Department.

Group says SAIC investigated before

SAIC, which is facing a current False Claims Act lawsuit, received no sanctions following a five-year investigation of apparently similar claims that ended in 2007, according to a watchdog group.

Contractors must use E-Verify system

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano today said enforcement of mandatory E-Verify for federal contractors will start September 8.

GAO: Costs surge on Deepwater project

The Coast Guard continues to face management problems with Deepwater and with its computer modernization program, GAO says.

Coast Guard seeks contractor for EVM

The Coast Guard Aviation Logistics Center will hire a contractor to implement its Earned Value Management program.