Oversight

One year later, administration touts stimulus impact

More than $140 billion has been obligated for project-related activities; pace of spending is expected to increase in 2010.

Management

Senate confirms 27 Obama nominees

Administration officials had suggested president would use recess appointments if Republicans did not release dozens of holds.

Oversight

Agencies find errors in Recovery Act spending reports

More than 12 percent of latest filings needed corrections, mostly on figures for jobs funded.

Oversight

VA tightens rules for veterans contracting program

To compete for set-asides, owners must be involved in their firms’ day-to-day operations.

Oversight

Senate bill aims to boost small business contracting

Measure attempts to break up large procurements into more manageable chunks and give small firms more chances at governmentwide acquisition contracts.

Oversight

Senate confirms Johnson as GSA administrator

Nearly a year after she was nominated, Martha Johnson is the agency’s first permanent administrator since 2008.

Oversight

Budget calls for larger acquisition workforce

Proposal would spend $158 million to increase the size of the procurement workforce by 5 percent.

Trends

On Hold

Several key Obama nominations are stuck in the Senate, to the detriment of federal operations.

Oversight

Stimulus funded nearly 600,000 jobs in late 2009, recipients report

Grants accounted for most of the spending and employment opportunities, but contracts also played a part, according to the latest statistics.

Oversight

Administration outlines performance management strategy

Budget includes agency-identified, high-priority performance goals for the first time.

Oversight

Contractors assist in Haiti earthquake relief

Federal agencies have spent more than $7.5 million on contracts for medical supplies, shipping vessels and rescue equipment.

Oversight

GSA moves closer to a permanent leader

Senate majority leader files motion to break hold on Martha Johnson’s nomination.

Oversight

Budget likely will target agencies’ top performance goals

Objectives identified by agencies played role in cuts, increases to federal programs.

Defense

Audit faults State for failing to monitor Iraq contract

Inspector general finds inadequate oversight has made a $2.5 billion pact to train the Iraqi police force susceptible to waste.

Oversight

Budget agency launches review of alleged threat against OPM official

A congressional investigation into the incident also is in the works.

Defense

Defense takes aim at contractor business systems

Proposed rule would allow contracting officers to withhold fees if systems for accounting, purchasing or estimating are deemed deficient.

Oversight

Transportation IG finds gaps in contractor enforcement

Firms eligible for suspension under department policy instead won millions in stimulus funds.

Defense

Concern grows over stalled GSA nomination

Martha Johnson was named administrator in April, but a hold by Republican Sen. Kit Bond has left her in limbo.

Defense

Lawmaker asks GAO to investigate gaps in terrorist watch lists

Suspect in the attempted Christmas Day terror attack was flagged in one database, but his name never appeared on the watch or no-fly list.

Defense

Major defense contractor moves headquarters to DC region

Northrop Grumman will open its new corporate office in the capital area by summer 2011.