News And Analysis

Buying Support

Can the Army reform procurement in time for the next war?

Oversight

Omnibus provision rules out FDA consolidation

Language prohibits appropriations from being used to close or consolidate laboratories and offices.

Management

The Letter of the Law

DHS might have funded shared services illegally by pooling earmarked funds.

Oversight

Backlog of Social Security disability claims likely to grow

Congress increases funding for SSA to address growing number of requests for hearings; but experts say fundamental changes still needed.

Oversight

Booz Allen Hamilton weighs splitting government, commercial operations

Key consulting firm is one of largest federal contractors.

Oversight

Lawmakers push for chief management officers at agencies

New positions would carry five-year terms; Bush administration management chief says they aren't necessary.

Defense

Chertoff seeks unified DHS, sets 2008 priorities

Homeland Security secretary says agency is suffering from congressional "oversight run amok."

Oversight

Agencies put regulatory plans online

New unified agenda is designed to increase transparency, save money.

Defense

Army officials pledge to beef up contracting workforce

Departing procurement chief says service plans to reorganize leadership, boost personnel by 1,400 over next few years.

News

Auditors voice concern about NASA launch vehicle program

GAO urges space agency to set firm requirements before going ahead with key project for space exploration.

Features

Running the Light

The Bush administration has used its traffic-light system to rate agency management since 2001. Now we evaluate the president’s progress.

News And Analysis

The Letter of the Law

DHS might have funded shared services illegally by pooling earmarked funds.

Oversight

OMB sets standards for contracting officials

Office of Federal Procurement Policy establishes training and competency requirements for contracting officer technical representatives.

Defense

Clinton asks Homeland Security IG to probe contract bonus payments

Several reports show DHS struggling to properly link award fees to performance.

Defense

Report: Defense made IT purchases without competition

Inspectors general find department did not follow rules when ordering off National Institutes of Health multiple award contracts.

Management

Real-Time Buying

Agencies work to link procurement with their financial and business systems.

Oversight

Agencies continue to make strides in financial management

All meet 45-day financial audit deadline, with 19 of 24 receiving clean audits; number of material weaknesses continues to decline, according to OMB.

Tech

Report details TSA information technology management problems

Homeland Security inspector general says agency’s IT environment is decentralized, lacks integration and is ineffectively managed.

Federal Marketplace

Real-Time Buying

Agencies work to link procurement with their financial and business systems.

Oversight

Justice proposes requiring contractors to report suspected criminal violations

Rule would expand on regulations issued earlier mandating a contractor code of ethics.