Army vows to cut 7,000 contractor jobs this year

Army Secretary John McHugh told a Senate committee that he plans to give outsourced jobs that are associated with inherently governmental functions to its civilian employees.

New GSA administrator vows better ideas, performance from her agency

The General Services Administration must know its clients, meet their needs through innovation and do it well, Martha Johnson, the new GSA administrator said in a speech after her swearing-in.

IBM wins $74M contract to integrate acquisition databases

Company will consolidate nine contracting databases that track pre- and post-award information on procurements.

Opinion

Agencies should not fear talking to contractors

Columnist Steve Kelman writes that communication between government and industry is key to saving money and and preventing misunderstandings in contract language.

SBInet director shares frustrations and progress on delays, tests and Boeing

Mark Borkowski is in the unenviable position of overseeing SBInet, the border protection system that is as noteworthy for its ambitious scope as it is for technical glitches and schedule delays.

Contractors under control in Afghanistan, senator says

Sen. Claire McCaskill says auditors and contract managers are keeping a tighter control of procurement in Afghanistan than they did in Iraq.

VA looks for help transforming patient care

In what it describes as a massive transformation, the Veterans Affairs Department is preparing to adopt a relatively new concept called patient-centered care that uses technology to keep patients informed and engaged.

VA officials toughen small business rules

A new rule defines the eligibility requirements for businesses to get verified status as a veteran-owned small business

Bill would increase oversight of prime-subcontractor relations

The bill would pressure companies to keep a clean performance record by paying subcontractors on time.

Senate confirms GSA nominee...finally

The Senate voted to confirm Johnson after Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) overrode a hold placed on her nomination by Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.) that had stalled the nomination since June 2009.

Senators push for more small-business contracts

New legislation would require agencies to think about small businesses and reconsider bundled contracts.

DARPA: Calling all cyber geneticists

A DARPA research program would combine technologies to apply genetics, anthropology, sociology and physiology to the identification of cyberattackers.

Army, SAIC too cozy on Future Combat Systems, IG says

DOD's IG found that a company helped develop a contract and then bid on it.

Bid protests keep on rising

Protesters filed more complaints with the Government Accountability Office about agency contracting decisions in fiscal 2009 than in the previous four years.

IG and agency battle over contract rules

The fight is over whether a $106 million CDC contract is for 'personal services.'

GSA disaster recovery program gains momentum

Companies reported their highest quarterly sales increases from July to September 2009.

Opinion

Insourcing is about strategy, not numbers

Contractors help the government fill a critical gap, and that gap must be the central focus of any debate on insourcing and managing a blended workforce, writes Jaime Gracia.

GAO officials offer acquisition reform basics

The Government Accountability Office has some advice for federal agencies about selecting contract types to protect the government's interests.

President orders clampdown on tax-delinquent contractors

The presidential memo directs federal officials and Congress to improve information sharing in order to block delinquent companies from receiving new awards.

House bill would punish users of front companies

A new bill in the House would penalize people who set up a company as a front to another business to get a government contract.