Defense

Panel aims to increase competition for services contracts

Group recommends allowing protests on task orders of $5 million or more.

Management

Acquisition panel agrees on need for training funds

Panelists vote against recommending a merger of the Defense Acquisition University and the Federal Acquisition Institute.

Tech

Proposed database would track federal spending

House and Senate bills differ in whether contracts would be included in addition to grants.

Pay & Benefits

Senate panel votes to give civilians higher raise than military

Appropriations bill also retains language introduced last year to limit public-private competitions.

Management

Paperwork burden up by by 441 million hours last year

Medicare prescription drug program accounted for largest increase.

Management

Panel debates competing bills to 'sunset' federal programs

Critics say unelected members of review commissions could eliminate programs without public input.

Management

A-76 veteran offers tips on what to do when employees win

Annual post-competition accountability reviews are important regardless of whether contractors or agency teams win, official says.

Defense

Panel agrees OMB needs official dedicated to acquisition workforce

Knotty questions on funding for training, contractor roles and commercial practices remain ahead as panel wraps up work.

Management

Protest filed over Army Corps decision to keep IT work in-house

Challenge relates to alleged flaws in the selection process; decision expected in early August.

Defense

New GSA chief reaches out to small businesses, agencies

Six weeks in, Lurita Doan is optimistic that her agency can finish the year in the black.

Management

Competitive sourcing veterans share stories, tips

Agencies should focus on communication before and during competitions, and follow-through once they are finished, officials say.

Management

Defense Department seeks input on military mail overhaul

Push for transformational, end-to-end solution could result in public-private job competition.

Management

House agrees to provision limiting competitive sourcing

After three years of House passage but defeat later in the legislative process, language’s chances of enactment are unclear.

Management

Defense IG to release reports on interagency contracting problems

Reports also will detail Anti-Deficiency Act violations; acquisition panel calls regulatory framework sufficient to handle “bad apples.”

Management

Panel finds performance-based contracts implemented poorly

Forty percent were wrongly counted toward OMB quota.

Defense

Navy contractor arrested for alleged computer system sabotage

Contractor admits malicious program was motivated by anger at losing a bid.

Management

Procurement spending up $175 billion since 2000

Democratic lawmakers’ report highlights 118 “problem contracts” collectively worth $745.5 billion.

Management

House votes to block Walter Reed outsourcing; Army moves forward

If Senate follows suit, transition to private base operations contractor could be in jeopardy.

Management

Army Corps employees win public-private competition for IT work

Award could still result in job loss, as the in-house proposal involves teaming with a contractor.

Management

House committees probe Alaska Native contracting program

"Laziness" among contracting officers cited as problem, along with program design.