Oversight

Lawmaker requests Hatch Act probe of top White House officials

California Republican asks the Office of Special Counsel to investigate alleged attempts to dissuade senatorial candidates from running in the primaries.

Oversight

OMB wants to see plans for reducing improper payments

Fiscal 2012 budget submissions must include a strategy to recoup funds wasted through fraud and error.

Oversight

Coast Guard seeks private sector oil spill solutions

Contractors, scientists and nonprofits encouraged to send proposals for responding to the Gulf crisis.

Oversight

Grant will help displaced NASA contractors

Labor Department provides $15 million for job training assistance for 3,200 Kennedy Space Center private sector employees.

Oversight

Inherently governmental rule sparks little consensus

Many comment on the proposed rule change that would clarify functions suitable for outsourcing.

Oversight

Purchasing agreements emphasize strategic sourcing, vendor diversity

GSA’s 12 new office supply deals are designed to save agencies money and to facilitate more transactions with small businesses.

Defense

Pentagon official searches for the source of contracting waste

Defense acquisition deputy Frank Kendall wants to reform the behavior that leads to spiraling costs and schedule overruns.

Defense

High-performing organizations fade into the A-76 sunset

Moratorium on public-private job competitions has taken away one incentive for the voluntary business reform process, report finds.

Oversight

Senator questions Medicare agency’s use of Defense audit unit

Iowa Republican wants to know why the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services still contracts with the beleaguered DCAA.

Defense

Homeland Security replaces head of Federal Protective Service

Gary Schenkel had been under fire from Capitol Hill after a series of reports uncovered security gaps at federal buildings.

Oversight

Report finds interagency contracts rife with inefficiencies

Agencies spend $60 billion annually on multiple award and enterprisewide contracts that often are duplicative.

Defense

Report: Gun accidentally fired in Energy Department training session

Contractor did not have adequate safety controls in place, inspectors say.

Oversight

Tech firm’s use of 8(a) status questioned

Small Business Administration IG finds goods and services for owner’s other companies were billed to Alaska native firm.

Defense

House committee rejects insourcing quotas

Measure bans “arbitrary goals” for bringing contracted work back into government.

Defense

Defense implements sexual assault rule

Contractors cannot use mandatory arbitration agreements to settle cases; provision includes waiver for national security.

Defense

Insourcing isn’t the only ingredient of workforce rebalancing

Procurement policy chief tells Senate committee he does not expect a tectonic shift away from the private sector.

Defense

Pentagon reports progress on anniversary of procurement reform law

Despite improvements, watchdog finds major programs still face requirements changes, software development challenges and workforce issues.

Oversight

Feds almost pay a price for porn

Republican language banning agencies from paying employees caught viewing explicit images on work computers unravels technology bill.

Oversight

Federal acquisition councils anticipate mandate to increase transparency

But the administration has not yet directed agencies to post contract documents online.

Oversight

Senators call for sanctions against contractors doing business with Iran

GAO finds seven companies with U.S. contracts also worked in Iran’s energy sector.