STARS II changes drawing congressional scrutiny

Several members of Congress are asking for answers now that two years have been carved off the life of the 8(a) STARS II vehicle.

Opinion

The big surprise inside GSA's STARS II modification

No one blinked when GSA said it was expanding the ceiling of the 8(a) STARS II contract vehicle but they caught many companies by surprise when they snuck in a clause cut the length of the contract by two years.

Trump fires TVA chairman over IT outsourcing

The federally owned power company is rethinking plans to fire its internal IT staff and shift to managed services in light of Trump's intervention and a new executive order on federal contracting.

Opinion

COVID has changed BD with more changes to come

Without a doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic has driven 100 days of challenges, change, and transition; and the remainder of the year will be the blueprint of what is going to be the new normal.

Special Operations Command sets industry day for $600M global analytics contract

The U.S. Special Operations Command has set Aug. 25 as the industry day for its $600 million contract to field a global analytics platform.

Social selling tips for fiscal year end, COVID and beyond

Marketing guru Mark Amtower shares his best tips for making the most of the fiscal year end despite the limitations of the COVID-19 pandemic.

VA's T4NG on-ramp faces more protest hurdles

The Veterans Affairs Department's T4NG on-ramp has run into more protest troubles, but this time the venue is U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

Opinion

Let's merge schedules and GWACs to create something really innovative

Combining the best of the Multiple Award Schedule and government-wide acquisition contracts could create an innovative way to buy and contractors to sell. Lohfeld Consulting Principal Consultant Jacob Bertram suggests now is the time to start the conversation.

Let's start August with some good news

The success of the SpaceX Dragon crew spacecraft is a needed reminder that we can do hard things.

CBP taps into modernization fund for legacy system

Customs and Border Protection won a $15M award to update a COBOL-based fee collection system and move it to the cloud.

DynCorp continues battle for $700M intelligence contract

DynCorp International is now into round three of protests over a $700 million Army intelligence contract that went to CACI International nearly 15 months ago.

NIH to reconsider rejected bids for CIO-SP3 on-ramp

Less than a handful of companies whose bids were rejected for the $20 billion CIO-SP3 on-ramp are back in the running.

DOD says new JEDI award coming next month

The Defense Department's CIO Dana Deasy said a re-announcement of the embattled JEDI cloud contract should come by the end of August.

Special Operations Command moves ahead on $600M analytics contract

The window is closing for companies to participate in a $600 million competition to help Special Operations Command build a global analytics platform.

Podcasts

PROJECT 38: How the ban on Chinese tech impacts GovCon

Defense policy expert and attorney Samantha Clark explains the far ranging implications of a new rule that bans agencies from awarding contracts to companies using or selling telecommunications equipment from certain China based companies

Opinion

Beyond Space Force: Five space opportunities to keep in your orbit

Space Force grabs a lot of attention but they aren't the only space game in town as immixGroup analyst Lloyd McCoy explains.

Agencies lean on contracts without competition to meet COVID response needs

More than half of all contracts agencies awarded to address the COVID-19 pandemic were not through a competition, but GAO warns that competition can still net benefits even in a crisis.

General Dynamics sees COVID disruptions on two sides of the pond

General Dynamics' IT business takes a hit as the COVID-19 impacts are felt in the U.S. and Europe, but the company reports agencies are putting out a strong volume of opportunities.

Pentagon issues contract guidance on China tech ban

The Defense Department outlines how it will implement the upcoming government ban on doing business with companies that use certain Chinese telecommunications equipment.

DHS wants anti-drone tech to thwart smugglers

The tests by the Border Patrol are designed to gather information about the use of drones by drug smugglers and other criminal organizations at the border and to determine what agents need by way of response.