Oversight

Agencies Are Relying More on Alternatives to Contractor Suspension and Debarment

Annual report shows that exclusions from doing business with the government have decreased in recent years, yet are still up from 2009.

Management

Trump Revokes Obama Order That Had Limited Hiring Options for Some Contractors 

Contracting experts had been critical of the lack of flexibility for managers under a rule requiring certain companies to hire employees from their predecessors. 

Management

It’s Finally Here: GSA’s New Consolidated Schedule

Tuesday’s solicitation will begin the process of turning 24 award schedules into a single contracting vehicle for products and services.

Tech

NASA Hands Elon Musk a Reality Check

A shared effort to deliver NASA astronauts to space recently got a little awkward.

Management

Federal Government Awards Three Contracts for 65 New Miles of Border Fencing in South Texas

The cost of the new fencing will range between $385 million and $800 million. Construction is set to begin in early 2020.

Defense

Extra-Long Sustainment Contracts Are Lockheed’s Latest Bid to Cut F-35 Costs

The company is pitching the Pentagon on a five-year deal — with promises to keep 80 percent of the fleet mission-ready.

Management

The Insidious Threat of Pay to Play

The government contracting world is deeply vulnerable to fraud, says a former federal investigator.

Management

HHS’s Suspension of Acquisition Services Leaves Outside Agencies and Contractors in Limbo

It’s been three months since the department announced it was closing down its shared services operations, and many questions remain unanswered.

Oversight

FEMA Officials Charged With Bribery Over Puerto Rico Power Contracts

A 15-count federal indictment accuses two former FEMA officials and a contractor with bribery, fraud and other offenses related to disaster relief efforts after Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017.

Pay & Benefits

Defense Employee Health Support Programs Restored After Weeklong Outage

Department officials said a "previously unidentified contracting issue" led to a temporary suspension of programs designed to help employees cope with substance abuse and other mental health problems.

Management

Former State Department Employee Pleads Guilty to Procurement Fraud

The official had a social relationship with a furniture manufacturing executive, with whom she shared confidential contract information.

Tech

3-Star General: Tomorrow’s Troops Need Controversial JEDI Cloud

Days after the new SecDef put a hold on the massive cloud program, two Pentagon leaders went on the record to defend it.

Management

The Trump Administration Finally Has a Top Procurement Administrator

Innovation, cost efficiency, cybersecurity protections, small business partnerships and category management are all on Michael Wooten’s agenda.

Defense

With China, Russia in Mind, Pentagon Adding Stealthy Cruise Missiles

Lockheed Martin is building a new factory to accommodate the military’s demand.

Tech

The Great NASA Bake-Off

High-tech agriculture would keep far-flung astronauts alive, but making something delicious would keep them happy.