Acquisition

• Armed Services chairman challenges DoD on new rule for commercial acquisition

  Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has told several audiences in recent weeks that he’s trying to drill tunnels through the “wall” that sits between the Defense Department and commercial innovators.

  DoD Reporter's Notebook

  September 14, 2015
• Army, GSA admit major failures in childcare assistance program

  Army officials said Thursday that they would conduct what amounts to an about-face on a 2013 decision which turned over the management of the service’s childcare assistance program to the General Services Administration.

  Defense

  September 11, 2015
• FAA’s Next Gen System experiences turbulence with interoperability

  Industry stakeholders told the Government Accountability Office they are concerned about global interoperability with the Next Generation Air Transportation Systems and how modernization efforts around the world have been hampered due to constrained resources.

  Facilities/Construction

  September 10, 2015
• Stan Soloway: Stepping down from PSC after 15-year tenure

  Stan Soloway announced Wednesday he'll step down as president and CEO of the Professional Services Council after 15 years at the helm. A successor has not yet been chosen. Soloway will stay on until the association hires a replacement. He joins the Federal Drive with Tom Temin to reflect on his tenure and his plans for a post-retirement future.

  Federal Drive

  September 10, 2015
• James Tinsley: JLTV changes the game on Defense acquisition

  The Pentagon plans to replace most of its aging Humvee fleet with a new generation, dubbed the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. JLTV is designed to provide more protection against roadside bombs and mines than Humvees. DoD recently awarded a $6.7 billion contract to the Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Corporation. James Tinsley is the Managing Director at Avascent, which advised Oshkosh. He tells the Federal Drive with Tom Temin more on how the Army's contracting methodology might apply to other DoD platforms.

  Federal Drive

  September 10, 2015
• Eric Crusius: What does paid leave executive order mean for contractors?

  Thanks to a new executive order, 300,000 employees of federal contractors have a new benefit coming and their employers have a new mandate to comply with. On Labor Day, President Barack Obama signed an executive order requiring their employers to offer paid sick leave. Eric Crusius, who represents government contractors at the law firm Miles & Stockbridge, offered his take on In Depth with Francis Rose as part of Industry Chatter.

  Agency in Focus

  September 10, 2015
• Brian Friel: DoD, DHS go big on OASIS contract

  OASIS is one big multiple award contract, and it continues to grow. The Defense Department leads the pack with the Air Force accounting for half of its obligations. The Homeland Security Department is committed to it as well. Brian Friel, a government contracts analyst at Bloomberg Government, offered his analysis on In Depth with Francis Rose as part of Industry Chatter.

  All News

  September 10, 2015
• Jason Miller: Recent bid protest decision impacts federal acquisitions

  The Government Accountability Office is refining the concept of reasonable determination in government contracting. A recent bid protest decision added new complexity to this term and will impact the growing trend of mergers and acquisitions in the federal contractor community. Federal News Radio’s Executive Editor Jason Miller writes about GAO’s decision in this week's edition of Inside the Reporter’s Notebook. He joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin to discuss it.

  Federal Drive

  September 09, 2015
• John Cavadias: GSA takes a hard look at Alliant 2

  When it comes to the replacement vehicle for its popular Alliant governmentwide acquisition contract, the General Services Administration is being super careful. For Alliant 2, it has conducted a series of requests for information with industry. John Cavadias, lead contracting officer for Alliant 2 tells Federal Drive with Tom Temin why GSA did so much research before issuing the request for proposals for a vehicle on which agencies will eventially spend tens of billions of dollars.

  Federal Drive

  September 09, 2015
• What’s new with NASA SEWP V?

  Joanne Woytek, program manager for NASA SEWP V, joins host Roger Waldron to give us an update of the program, which is off to a fast start since being awarded in May. September 8, 2015

  Off the Shelf

  September 08, 2015
• Inside the Reporter’s Notebook – NASA, Energy, Commerce rearrange seats in CIO’s office

  The federal technology community is seeing a lot of key senior executives switch roles or leave government, including new officials in charge of data analytics at GSA and EPA.

  Reporter's Notebook

  September 08, 2015
• GSA plays Captain Ahab in latest effort to streamline schedules

  A request for information to update the IT schedule receives initial positive reviews, but modernizing the largest multiple award contract has never been easy.

  Acquisition Policy

  September 08, 2015
• Bid-protest decision impacting mergers and acquisitions

  GAO says contracting officers should make a new determination of responsibility if a company is sold while bidding on a contract.

  Acquisition Policy

  September 08, 2015
• FirstNet ramps up, finalizing RFP before 2016

  Contractors looking to submit proposals for FirstNet's public safety nationwide network could see a final draft RFP by the end of this year.

  Technology

  September 07, 2015