Set-aside program for women on the way, SBA says

Small Business Administration officials have proposed amending the agency's rules, and federal regulators are considering changes to governmentwide rules.

Service contractors now required to identify themselves

Federal officials want the difference between government employees and private-sector employees to be obvious.

Kelly Olson goes from ConnellyWorks to GSA

Olson will develop GSA's outreach efforts, offering its technology services to other federal agencies.

New contracting threshold could harm small businesses

Regulatory councils increased the minimum amount at which a company must draw up a subcontracting plan, but small businesses may lose out on contracts.

GAO bows to CIA decision to waive conflicts of interest

GAO’s ruling is evidence that it won’t second-guess agency officials' decisions to waive organizational conflicts of interest.

Feds like the way these agencies work it

A new survey reveals the satisfaction--or lack thereof--among the women and men who work in federal offices.

GPO names acting management chief

Herb Jackson has been named the Government Printing Office's acting chief management officer. He replaces Janet Sansone, who is retiring.

FAR Council considers justifying sole-source awards

Congress demands a good reason for awarding a contract worth $20 million or more without hosting a competition for the work.

Regulators nudge up simplified acquisition dollar thresholds

Regulatory changes offer modest benefits for both small businesses and large companies.

GSA seeks to upgrade its electronic travel service

The General Services Administration wants pioneering approaches to improve its E-Government Travel System, as the agency upgrades its travel management services.

CIO-SP 3 Functional Areas

Here is a breakdown of the functional areas for the CIO-SP 3 contract for the small-business and full-and-open versions.

$40B RFP lays groundwork for health IT market

The health IT market is on the cusp of a growth period thanks to the NIH Chief Information Officer Solutions and Partners 3 program. But don't expect an explosion of spending.

NIH confronted OMB about multibillion dollar contract — and won

NIH says it never doubted that it could convince the OMB that it should recertify its governmentwide contract.

Feds remember Hurricane Katrina

Five years ago, the hurricane hit the Gulf Coast and feds arrived soon after to help with cleanup. Now an employee union wants to hear those stories.

SBA names its minority small business person of the year

Patrick Hughes of Hughes Group LLC wins the Minority Small Business Person of the Year award from the Small Business Administration.

Despite more competition, single-bid contracts stay steady

Noncompetitive contracts declined from fiscal 2005 to fiscal 2009, but contracts receiving only one bid remained steady, GAO says.

GSA names chief financial officer

Alison Doone, currently the Internal Revenue Service's CFO, will assume the same position with the General Services Adminsistration.

Contractor database to go public by year's end

Regulations are progressing to open the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System to the general public.

Technology is changing marching orders for Army leadership

Army leaders believe future military operations will increasingly rely on a dispersed, decentralized force. Now they need to know how to lead in that environment.

No debrief required for schedule holders, judge rules

The U.S. Court of Federal Claims said schedules don't fall under the fiscal 2008 National Defense Authorization Act.