Senate defense authorization bill contains key changes
The legislation would remove the “shall” in the law that some say gives small businesses in economically depressed areas first preference in contract set-asides.
Senate deal will level small-business contract preferences
Sen. Landrieu's amendment would take away any priority one type of business may have when competing for government contracts.
Acquisition community is Web 2.0 ready, but scared
Everything was in place to move forward with new technologies, but the employees are waiting for the leaders to go first, government officials and industry exerts say.
Vets could get edge on no-bid contracts at VA
A new bill would require the Veterans Affairs Department to give priority to veteran-owned small businesses when outsourcing work with no competition.
House passes spending bill with outsourcing provisions
Agencies would have to create an annual inventory of services they’ve outsourced to the private sector and review whether to return the work to government employees.
Report: Alaska Natives own largest contractors, give towns little help
Four Alaska Native Corporations were among the top 100 recipients of contract awards in 2008 and six companies made Washington Technology’s Top 100 List in 2009.
GAO rejects request to review HUBZone decisions
SBA and OMB contended GAO overreached its authority in ruling that HUBZone businesses should get priority over 8(a) small businesses and service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses.
ANCs head to Capitol Hill to polish image
Native8(a)works launched its effort to tell Congress about what SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program does for the United States’ indigenous people.
DOD aims to beef up in-house engineering expertise
The Defense Department needs systems engineers who have a deep understanding of the IT systems in their charge, although they don’t need to actually write the software lines of code, an official said.
Service contracts go under House microscope
The House Appropriations Committee wants an inventory of services contracts and for agencies to consider bringing that work back in-house.
Lawmakers get tough on defense contractors over injuries
If a contractor is found at fault for causing injury to a government employee, DOD must prohibit any award fee.
Services reinvigorated GSA schedules program
When GSA added services to Schedule 70, it changed agencies' perception of the program and opened a new market for government contractors.
Agencies to share contractor past-performance assessments
A revised FAR rule requires agencies to use a standard database to share contractors' performance information with one another.
More scrutiny of DOD services contracts under House bill
The fiscal 2010 National Defense Authorization Act seeks greater oversight of services and speedier ways to buy information technology.
Agencies lose money on award fees, GAO says
The Office of Federal Procurement Policy issued guidance in 2007 on awarding contractors award fees that would save money, but many agencies haven't instilled the guidance, auditors say.
GSA contract expiration reflects market needs, experts say
GSA official says many GWACs won't be renewed as GSA markets its Alliant and Alliant Small Business contracts.
OFPP to clarify inherently governmental jobs in July
OFPP's clarification of the lines surrounding inherently governmental functions will take a more people-centered approach.
Senate hearing set on Alaska Native Corp. contracting
A Senate subcommittee plans to hold a hearing July 16 to further examine the increasing amount of money going to Alaska Native Corporations.
Contract management systems broken in Iraq, Afghanistan, says commission
The Defense Department has too few trained acquisition employees to keep up with the increasingly expensive operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, commission states.
Report: Insourcing government work could be disasterous
Taking work from the private sector should be done deliberately and based on facts, not innuendo and rhetoric, according to a new report.
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