Oversight

Business is booming for Alaska native corporations

ANCs raked in more than $5 billion in government contracts in fiscal 2008, nearly 10 times the amount they earned in 2000.

News

OPM urged to offer rapid hiring authority for stimulus efforts

Agency officials say under the current system, they won’t be fully staffed to handle Recovery Act mandates until September.

Features

Out in the Cold

Now that Sen. Ted Stevens is out of office, Congress could begin dismantling the contracting preferences for Alaska native corporations.

Oversight

Paper outlines practical steps to improve contracting

Suggestions include giving chief acquisition officers more authority and creating business councils.

Oversight

Government continues to provide unethical contractors with work, GAO says

More than two dozen contracts were awarded in two years to vendors under federal suspension or debarment, according to investigators.

Oversight

Bill aims to rein in bloated Defense contracts

Legislation would require reexamination of all Defense contracts more than 25 percent over budget.

Oversight

Watchdogs applaud Obama’s pick to oversee stimulus

Interior IG Earl Devaney will lead a recovery board with an $84 million budget.

Defense

Six months after scathing review, problems at Defense audit agency persist

DCAA’s chief cites progress, but employees say reforms have been ineffective.

Oversight

Progress mixed on naming officials to oversee stimulus spending

OMB asked agencies to designate a point person by Feb. 13, but some missed the deadline.

Oversight

KBR, Halliburton reach agreement in bribery case

Two firms will pay $579 million in penalties to settle allegations of bribing Nigerian government officials to earn contracts.

Oversight

White House orders agencies to plan oversight of stimulus spending

Agencies must appoint senior-level officials by Feb. 13 to manage recovery funds.

Oversight

Officials seek more resources to fight mortgage and corporate fraud

Number of cases being investigated by the FBI and the Treasury Department has jumped during the economic crisis.

Defense

Federal contractors are likely to benefit from stimulus plan

Industry leaders say economic recovery package could offset some of the cuts expected in Defense procurement spending.

Oversight

Supplier of tainted peanut butter suspended from federal contracts

Peanut Corporation of America is the focus of an investigation into a nationwide Salmonella outbreak that has left eight people dead.

Defense

Defense outlines change in acquisition strategy

Larger procurement workforce, more competition, on the way, top agency official said.

Defense

Legislators ask Defense agency to rethink public-private competition

Letter urges the Pentagon to consider an internal reengineering proposal.

Defense

State Department could replace Blackwater

The private security contractor has been denied a license to operate in Iraq, and State will not renew the firm’s contract when it expires in May 2009.

Oversight

Report charts new path for improving program performance

Efforts have focused too heavily on achieving narrow targets and earning good marks on OMB assessments, author says.

Defense

Veterans bounced by bank error

GSA contract bank refuses to honor checks issued to 465 veterans, who were subsequently hit with penalties and fees.

News

Obama suspends all pending federal rule changes

Memorandum could affect significant Bush administration regulations, including a rule on the Pentagon personnel system.