Services, IT support cut to save millions in Coast Guard's 2012 budget

The Coast Guard is looking for savings from contractors and reduced IT support to shift resources to its operations.

Automatic debarments not the answer in a war-zone, White House official warns

Dan Gordon tells the Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan to avoid creating blanket recommendations on how to punish contractors.

Contracting panel urges suspensions, debarments for misbehaving contractors

A commission reviewing government contracting in war zones recommends both expanding jurisdiction for punishing wrongdoers and requiring suspensions and debarments.

Would a shutdown equal layoffs for contractors?

Most contractors expect to keep working during a government shutdown, but nearly a quarter believe there will be layoffs.

Who’s still in the hunt for VA’s $12B prize?

Interest is high on who made the cut to continue pursuing the Veterans Affairs Department's $12 billion IT modernization contract known as T4.

Contractors should brace for a government shutdown

As concerns grow that a government shutdown is inevitable, contractors need to prepare for the worst. Are you ready?

Contractors face more pain from government shutdown

A government shutdown today will hurt contractors more than it did in 1995. Who will feel the deepest cuts?

Customs increases collaboration with $1B in IT spending at stake

Customs and Border Protection's IT office is using more requests for information and other methods to get ideas from vendors in advance of a procurement, officials said.

Is competitive sourcing ready for a comeback?

While competitive sourcing has been a no-show for several years, a new provision signals a change in the future toward the Bush administration's policy.

Federal contract spending slowdown just beginning, OMB official says

The pressure to slow down federal contract spending will continue as the government tries to rebuild its acquisition workforce, says OMB's Dan Gordon. What are his three top priorities?

What's DOD's worst acquisition policy? Ashton Carter wants to know

Defense Department wants industry input on policies that drive up costs and bring little value. What will you tell them?

The golden opportunity of deep budget cuts

The IT infrastructure cuts at some agencies create the chance to rethink the contractor-customer relationship, writes Editor Nick Wakeman.

OMB puts $2B in IT spending on the chopping block

Federal CIO Vivek Kundra said described how the government is going to cut $2 billion worth of IT programs. Are your customers' projects on the chopping block?

GSA policy chief takes on acquisition regulations

Acquisition officials are looking closely at three areas of the procurement process that must be fixed to create a faster, smoother system.

Obama pushes for commodity IT purchasing

Obama wants to reform IT management by leveraging the sheer size of the government as a buyer to get better prices for common IT.

2012 budget feeds tougher competition

The Obama administration's fiscal 2012 budget proposal trims $1.1 trillion over 10 years, creating a tougher competitive environment for contractors, but many of the details are still lacking.

Watchdog group faults Obama decision to withdraw transparency proposal

The Obama administration withdrew a proposal to require that contracts, as well as task and delivery orders, be posted online.

SBA to Alaska Native Corporations: Show us the money

Alaska Native Corporations soon will have to report to the Small Business Administration on how they have used their special set-aside government contract funds to help their communities back home.

Is the government sending mixed signals about collaborating with industry?

Contracting officers are getting pulled in opposite directions by OMB and Congress, writes Editor Nick Wakeman.

Alaska Native Corporations' contracting status under fire again

Four ANCs have been among the top 100 recipients of contract awards, and in 2009 six companies made Washington Technology's Top 100 List of IT contractors.