Tech

GSA Looks to Help Get LGBTQI-owned Small Businesses in the Contracting Mix

The agency is going to work with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce as part of an effort to increase access to contracting for LGBTQI-owned small businesses.

Management

An SBA Team Targets Set-Aside Contracts Awarded to Ineligible Firms

The Office of Government Contracting and Business Development successfully steered over $5 billion in contracting opportunities for small businesses away from firms that were ineligible for set-asides.

Defense

Boeing Can’t Find Enough Workers to Build the New Air Force One

A new GAO report details the latest setback for the presidential planemaker. 

Defense

Lawmakers Want to Know How Much Bad Software Costs DOD

When the House Armed Services Committee begins its markup process of the annual defense authorization bill on June 8, look out for a provision asking the Pentagon to account for wasted money and lost productivity caused by poorly performing software.

Management

The White House Just Pulled Its Nominee to Fill the Still-Vacant Job of Federal Procurement Chief

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy has not had a confirmed leader since the Trump administration, despite the Biden administration's goals to use procurement to advance equity and curb climate change. 

Management

Agencies Aren't Hitting Disconnection Targets Under EIS

Some agencies may have to exercise "continuity of service" contract clauses to keep phones, internet and other network services online beyond the May 2023 deadline.

Workforce

Federal Call Center Workers Strike Over Pay, Healthcare Costs

Employees at Maximus call centers working on Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services contracts, conducted a two-day strike this week seeking pay and better healthcare coverage.

Defense

DOD to Debut Virtual Desktops for Certain Highly Classified Programs

The effort, which sunsets "Chinstrap" desktop hardware, has been a key priority in the Pentagon's CIO shop.

Tech

The Navy Needs to Do a Better Job Finding the Right Job for Its Cyber Specialists, Officials Say

Adm. Michael Gilday, the chief of naval operations, told the House Armed Services Committee the Navy has struggled with matching cyber talent with teams.

Tech

GovExec Daily: Former Operation Warp Speed Official Says It Was 'a Model' For Public-Private Partnerships

Courtney Bublé talks to Paul Mango on the podcast about the vaccine development program.

Defense

Lockheed Secretly Worked to Block Airbus’ Influence in Washington—While Teaming on a Major Pentagon Bid

Internal email reveals U.S. company’s pressure to deny Europeans’ application to powerful trade group.

Oversight

Senate Bill to Train Acquisition Workforce on AI gets House Counterpart

The AI Training Act, which passed the Senate last December now has a House companion from Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and James Comer (R-Ky.).

Management

Why Rural Communities Struggle to Bring in Much-needed Federal Grants

A new analysis suggests that over half of communities in the West lack the capacity to take advantage of infrastructure bill funding. Now what?

Management

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.

Tech

HBCUs Could Be One Key to Improving Equity in Federal Contracting and Technology

From expanding contracting opportunities for small, disadvantaged businesses to building out a more diverse federal workforce, federal agencies are increasingly aiming to partner with minority-serving institutions to ensure their equity goals are effective.

Management

SBA Looks to Promote Disadvantaged Businesses With 2023 Budget Request

The head of the Small Business Administration told lawmakers the agency is planning to ramp up outreach efforts for small disadvantaged businesses and other firms in need of support to address a 40% decline in small businesses working with the federal government.

Defense

Pentagon Still not Taking Full Advantage of Rapid Acquisition Authorities, Former Official Says

Ellen Lord, the former undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment during the Trump administration, told senators "strong leadership" was needed to fully embrace rapid acquisitions policies.

Defense

Boeing’s Low-Ball Defense Bidding Has Come Back to Bite Them

The company has lost billions of dollars and the pandemic is making things worse.

Defense

CEO: Boeing Should Have Rejected Trump’s Air Force One Deal

The company revealed that it has lost $660 million outfitting the next presidential jets—so far.