Oversight

Civilian agency contract spending continues to climb

As purchases balloon, the president orders up a procurement overhaul.

Oversight

Many Recovery Act contracts fall into high-risk category

Cost-reimbursement agreements are prevalent, despite OMB’s warning about potential for waste and abuse.

Oversight

Former top Labor official charged in Abramoff investigation

Horace Cooper, former chief of staff for the Employment Standards Administration, faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

Oversight

Administration says it is committed to posting contracts online

Then-Sen. Obama sponsored legislation in 2008 to populate USASpending.gov with copies of government contracts.

Oversight

Stimulus reporting registration off to a smooth start

About 3,000 recipients of Recovery Act money have enrolled at FederalReporting.gov so they will be prepared to submit spending information in October.

Features

Reform, Obama-Style

As spending balloons, the president orders up a contracting overhaul.

Oversight

Registration for stimulus money recipients starts on Aug. 17

Online sign up marks the first step toward full spending reports, due in early October.

Oversight

Former procurement chief offers plan for expediting stimulus contracts

Allan Burman says roving teams of performance professionals could help implement ‘sizable’ contracts in a few days.

Defense

Defense audit agency shifts control of California field office to Central Region

Auditors say “unprecedented” move will waste taxpayer dollars and do little to resolve management issues.

Defense

Panel to probe contractor business systems, rules on subcontracting

Wartime contracting commission will hold hearings on issues that emerged preparing an interim report.

Defense

More problems reported with Defense Contract Audit Agency

Draft GAO report finds issues with 37 audits conducted between 2004 and 2006, according to internal memos.

Oversight

Energy weighs freeing feds from competitive sourcing agreements

Internal memo offers staffers the option of canceling letters of obligation, with proper justification.

Oversight

Procurement policy office maintains low profile

Despite push for contracting reforms, President Obama has yet to name an executive to lead central policy shop.

Oversight

Biggest companies rake in Recovery Act contracts

More than $1.5 billion in stimulus funds have gone to 17 of the largest government contractors.

News And Analysis

Absent Acquisition

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy appears to be lost in the contracting shuffle.

Oversight

SBA points to progress combating abuse of HUBZone program

Administrator Karen Mills testifies the agency has increased site visits and is reforming its process of certifying firms’ eligibility.

Oversight

McCaskill will wait on Alaska native contracting reform

Democratic senator withdraws amendment to Defense spending bill that would have required ANCs to operate under sole-source caps.

Oversight

Watchdog adds Postal Service to high-risk list

Declining mail volume has created financial burden for USPS, according to GAO report.

Oversight

Bill to reduce improper payments reintroduced

Legislation would require greater agency oversight and financial incentives for recovered funds.

Defense

Wartime contracting commission heads back to Iraq

Panel will investigate the Pentagon’s plans for $3 billion worth of in-theater government property.