U.S. Transportation Command says it won’t know how soon the department will be able to finally transition to its long-delayed household goods moving contract until a new round of IT integration tests is finished.
For smaller suppliers, selling to DoD still isn't a walk in the park – but things are getting a little simpler. Last month, the department enacted a long-awaited rule change that prohibits prime contractors from flowing unnecessary contract clauses down to their subcontractors. It is all a part of more changes that are meant to simplify commercial buying in DoD that are still in the rulemaking pipeline. Dan Ramish is counsel at the law firm Haynes & Boone. He talked with Federal News Network’s Deputy Editor Jared Serbu about what the changes mean.
David Drabkin, a fellow at the Stevens Institute of Technology Acquisition Innovation Research Center, and Chris Yukins, a professor at the George Washington University law school and a fellow with Acquisition Innovation Research Center, led a review of DoD’s protest data, specifically focused on agency-level complaints.
The Coast Guard is one of the smallest military services -- but it has a big mission. According to the Government Accountability Office, it is still struggling to meet that mission because of longstanding challenges in at least three major areas. To talk through where things stand and how the service can improve, Federal News Network's Deputy Editor Jared Serbu spoke with Heather MacLeod, GAO's Director for Homeland Security and Justice Issues.
Bill Hepworth, deputy program executive officer for the Army’s program executive office enterprise information systems (PEO-EIS), said after testing out the new contract writing system with 100 users, the plan is to triple that number in early 2024.
Jeff Koses, GSA’s senior procurement executive, said updating the language in the Competition in Contracting Act to focus on best value instead of lowest cost will go a long way to limiting the use of LPTA.
(11/16/23) - In today's Federal Newscast: The IRS' new CIO makes a move with vast experience and success modernizing legacy technology. Several key Biden administration nominees are moving forward in the Senate. And the GSA sees record spending through its contracts for IT products and services.
The General Services Administration is facing two new protests of its small business IT services contract known as Polaris, while VA’s awards under T4NG2 remain intact, so far.
Christine Harada, the senior advisor in the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, said there are four areas of focus under the Better Contracting Initiative, including enterprisewide software licensing and new guidance to improve requirements development.
The rule will include key details on the "most ambitious cybersecurity conformity initiative ever attempted,”
Bloomberg Government predicts record contract spending, once Congress passes appropriations bills for 2024. It sees $762 billion in total procurement, including $113 billion for professional services. With how companies need to prepare, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin turned to federal sales and marketing consultant Larry Allen.
Federal Acquisition Policy and Procedure (PAP) 2021-05, Evaluation of FSS Program Pricing, sets forth “comprehensive guidance regarding the evaluation of pricing throughout the life of a Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program contract.” This “internal” guidance outlines a host of evaluation and negotiation directives, standards, and considerations for FSS contracting officers.
The Department of the Navy says it’s seen some big successes with a pilot program that lets them use a single color of money for software, and wants Congress to expand the authority. But quantifying those successes isn’t easy.
DHS plans to use its own approach for evaluating contractor cybersecurity rather than adopting the Pentagon's CMMC program.
The longer the House of Representatives remains in stasis, the closer the next budget deadline comes without any action to resolve it. There is lots at stake, including how the federal acquisition function will operate.