Contracts/Awards

• Zakheim: better acquisition workforce requires more money

  To save money in contracting, DoD will have to spend money to build the acquisition workforce, former DoD Comptroller Dov Zakheim said.

  Federal Drive

  November 16, 2010
• LMI’s Weiss discusses Lifetime Achievement Award

  Paul Weiss, Senior Director of Program Development, LMI was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year\'s Excellence in Partnership Awards. Host Larry Allen discusses the award and Weiss\'s career with the man himself. November 16, 2010

  Off the Shelf

  November 16, 2010
• Iraq Breaks Deadlock on Forming New Government

  Iraqi politicians recently made progress in breaking the political deadlock that had prevented formation of a government, despite a walkout by the Sunni-backed Iraqiya bloc. Parliament has reappointed Jalal Talabani as President and elected a Sunni Arab from the Iraqiya bloc as Speaker of Parliament. Talabani re-appointed Nuri al Maliki as Prime Minister, enabling him to begin selecting a cabinet. Some commentators have asserted a new government will help reduce sectarian violence. None have explained how that is likely to occur since the Sunni-backed party obtained no strong power position in the new political arrangement despite winning a plurality in the March elections.

  Management

  November 16, 2010
• Survey: Acquisition policy doesn’t translate

  A new survey from the Professional Services Council and Grant Thornton finds contracting officers don\'t always find new guidance helpful in how they do their job. Acquisition workers also say too much oversight is causing innovation to be muted.

  Management

  November 16, 2010
• Has government hit mute on contracting officers’ innovation?

  Acquisition oversight by agency inspectors general, the Government Accountability Office and Congress have muted a lot of the innovation by contracting officers. A new survey by the Professional Services Council and Grant Thornton finds most…

  Congress

  November 15, 2010
• Corporate responsibility beyond the giant checks

  L3 MPRI\'s Rick Kiernan explains the benefits both externally and internally for a company\'s involvement in their community.

  All News

  November 15, 2010
• Social media in the federal government

  How is the federal government using social media? Host Mark Amtower interviews Marc Hausman, CEO & president of the Strategic Communications Group. November 15, 2010

  Amtower Off-Center

  November 15, 2010
• Afghan Army Soldier Defects to Taliban

  An Afghan national army soldier recently fired on foreign troops at a military compound in Sangin district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, after which he sought refuge with the Taliban. A Taliban spokesman said they took him to a safe location. The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force\'s press office said it had received information about the incident and had launched an investigation to ascertain its veracity. The ISAF will release further details once the investigation is complete. As noted previously, defection to the Taliban can be contagious. If it takes root among the Pashtuns, it could become unstoppable.

  Management

  November 15, 2010
• Federal agencies still play favorites with brand names in bid requests

  Federal agencies tend to favor brands they know, Washington Business Journal reports. FAR is supposed to eliminate brand preference, but that doesn’t always happens, one industry expert said in the article. “I think concern about…

  Management

  November 12, 2010
• OFPP calls for Fed to contractor ratio analysis

  A new memo from the Office of Federal Procurement Policy gives agencies until June to determine whether the number of contractors performing services is appropriate. First, however, agencies must develop a service contract inventory and make it public. OFPP said for agencies to initially focus on professional and management services and technology services.

  Management

  November 12, 2010
• Corporations gather to celebrate women

  Representatives from DC corporations come together to celebrate Inspiring Women in history and raise money for a good cause. We get details from CGI Federal\'s Sally Turner.

  Federal Drive

  November 12, 2010
• DISA awards contracts to Iridium

  The DoD\'s Iridium EMSS Gateway serves as a dedicated portal for the uplink and downlink of voice and data traffic through Iridium satellites for DoD and other U.S. government users throughout the world.

  Federal Drive

  November 12, 2010
• Mutual fund pulls back from cybersecurity firm

  Fidelity Investments slashes its stake in Sourcefire

  Federal Drive

  November 12, 2010
• New rule aims to cut Medicaid waste, fraud

  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has new rules to fight waste, fraud and abuse in Medicaid claims.

  Management

  November 11, 2010