Contracts

GSA shares specs on governmentwide cloud BPA

The General Services Administration is providing more details on how it’s aiming to launch a new blanket purchase agreement for cloud commercial technologies that will serve as a major one-stop shop for the entire government.

Contracts

NASA chief calls out the 'plague' of cost-plus contracts

The space agency is hoping to increasingly use competitions among top vendors and fixed-price contracts as a new way of conducting business--and cutting steep costs for major projects.

Contracts

GSA plans to publish zero trust playbooks

The General Services Administration is focusing on how to take the concept of zero trust into the implementation phase in a series of new playbooks set for release in the coming months, according to a senior IT official.

Contracts

Federal procurement featured in new equity action plans

Improving access to federal contracting vehicles and supporting small, disadvantaged businesses are key parts in the equity action plans released by agencies on April 14.

Contracts

GSA aims for greener IT contracts by adding sustainability criteria

The General Service Administration’s new contracting language is one tool for the agency to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.  

Companies

NSC official calls for federal office to oversee commercial supply chains

A NSC official expressed support for a provision in the $52 billion America COMPETES Act that would establish a federal office dedicated to monitoring domestic and international commercial supply chains.

Contracts

GSA to launch new BPA focusing on cloud technologies

The General Services Administration will roll out a new blanket purchase agreement to provide federal agencies with commercial cloud offerings as it seeks to reduce burden on government buyers – and administration costs for providers.

Companies

Senators look to root out contractor conflicts of interest

A bipartisan group of senators have introduced legislation they say will help prevent potential conflicts within businesses that work with the federal government after concerns were raised over McKinsey's work with the Food and Drug Administration while it was consulting with pharmaceutical firms.

Contracts

GSA announces four-fold increase in contracting opportunity goals for SDBs

As the administration continues its efforts to steer $100 billion in contracting opportunities to historically marginalized firms by 2025, the General Services Administration is unveiling how it plans to help make that objective a reality.

Companies

Panel closes in on federal data use recommendations

The Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building is preparing a series of recommendations which officials said will center around increased stakeholder engagement and fostering public-private partnerships for effective evidence building methods.

Contracts

Agencies look to streamline payment data collection in contracting

The keepers of the federal government's acquisition rulebook – GSA, DOD and NASA – want to increase automation in payments to contractors.

Contracts

GSA relaunches federal IT dashboard

The federal IT dashboard has officially relaunched after an overhaul intended to modernize the site, which dates back to 2009.

Companies

GSA's DUNS replacement set to go live

The General Services Administration is ready to flip the switch in early April on the non-proprietary entity identifier that is replacing the old DUNS number in federal contracting systems.

Companies

White House order covers contractor pay equity

The Biden administration issued an executive order on Tuesday calling on the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to create new regulations around the use of past compensation in employment decisions.

Companies

SEC proposes mandatory breach reporting for publicly traded companies

The Securities and Exchange Commission is proposing new rules requiring companies to disclose to investors material cybersecurity incidents within four business days.

Contracts

Former SBA officials press Congress for a more accessible 8(a) program

Former officials from the Small Business Administration, lawmakers and small business owners alike have all called for a series of major reforms they say will greatly improve the agency's landmark business development program.

Contracts

FAR proposal looks to implement key small business regulatory changes

The proposal sets new grounds for protests based on contractors operating under socioeconomic set-asides are "unduly" relying on other vendors, among other significant revisions.

Contracts

USAID plans new 'Digital Front Door' portal for contractors

The U.S. Agency for International Development is seeking public feedback on a plan to streamline data reporting requirements for contractors by establishing a single portal for all digital information.

White House tells agencies to set contracting equity goals

The Biden administration has released a detailed policy memo to meet the president's commitment to steer $100 billion in federal contracting opportunities to small disadvantaged businesses over the next five years.

Trade group warns of contractor workforce shortfall over vaccine mandate

A Professional Services Council (PSC) committee has forecasted potential workforce issues and billions of dollars in lost IT spend as the White House battles legal challenges to enforce a vaccine mandate for federal contractors.