Management

Auditors question GSA's telecom transition cost estimates

Government Accountability Office says agency may have set aside too much for move to massive Networx agreement.

Management

IRS chief says 2006 tax season taxing the agency

Late changes in the law and other factors conspired to place this season among the most difficult in memory, commissioner says.

Defense

Merit board seeks summary judgment powers

Top official sees heavier caseload ahead with retirements, tight budgets, pay for performance and potential expansion of whistleblower rights.

Defense

Reconstruction IG urges interagency coordination

Lessons learned report urges better integration of Defense, State and U.S. Agency for International Development, and supports creation of civilian reserve corps.

Defense

Defense agency, GSA weigh adopting Treasury contract shop

Agency is aiming to give FedSource a new home by Sept. 30; customers could face service disruptions.

Management

Long-awaited women’s contracting program may launch soon

Implementation has been slow because SBA wants to make sure guidelines are legally sound, agency official says.

Defense

Officials describe risks in Army transformation program

Acquisition official says contracting strategy is “experimental;” GAO cites technology issues.

Management

Justice insiders give advice on job competitions

Developing a proposal to compete against contractors is time-consuming and difficult, but also rewarding, team leaders say.

News And Analysis

Bargaining for Drugs

Can federal agencies follow a formula for lower-priced medicines?

Management

House passes contracting reform bill

Focus on noncompetitive arrangements and audit disclosures differs from that of a Senate contracting measure.

Defense

Academics urge Congress to go beyond acquisition panel proposals

Researchers characterize recommendations as careful, say bid protests and other accountability measures should apply to all purchases.

Defense

OMB: Benefits of 2006 regulations outweigh costs

Agency reports $44.8 billion in annual benefits, mostly from new air quality limits on soot.

Defense

Halliburton retreats from Iraq logistics work

With sale of subsidiary KBR, company distances itself from highly criticized federal contract.

Management

Army medical commander retires over Walter Reed fiasco

Kevin Kiley is the latest casualty; Army convenes board to select new surgeon general.

Management

SBA official opposes proposed disaster lending reforms

House bill would let private lenders process SBA loans, require a response plan that addresses past staffing and logistical problems.

Defense

Defense officials catalog acquisition initiatives

Many of the programs listed in a report to Congress reflect long-running department efforts or implement basic concepts.

Management

Study recommends sweeping overhaul of Army Corps budgeting

Current ad hoc funding prevents planning and undermines disaster preparedness, panel finds.

Management

Officials say outsourcing partly to blame for Walter Reed failures

Public-private job competition was based on outdated, pre-9/11 workload estimates, September memorandum warned.

Defense

Senators explore federal finances at sparsely attended hearing

Freshman Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., is stunned to learn that agencies regularly fail financial audits without serious consequences.

Features

Unshared Savings

Cash incentives to get companies to foot project costs fizzle.