Contracting

• Tim Sullivan, Partner, Thompson Coburn LLP

  Experienced executives know they can't keep reporting to the same contacts when something goes wrong. They also never lose sight of the fact that most government actions originate with low or mid-level employees. Tim Sullivan is a partner at the law firm Thompson Coburn, and author of the new blog, "A Government Contractor's Ten Commandments." He joined Tom Temin on the Federal Drive to tackle his third commandment: Thou shalt start as low as possible &mdash: not at the top of the ladder.

  Federal Drive

  January 20, 2015
• FedBid splits into two, names Jordan CEO of new public sector company

  The reverse auction vendor says its decision to split up its federal and commercial businesses has nothing to do with the critical Veterans Affairs inspector general report from September. Joe Jordan said FedBid has taken several steps to ensure any problems highlighted by the IG are resolved.

  Defense

  January 20, 2015
• Contracting Commandment #3: Start from the bottom up when dealing with a problem

  If you've got a problem or concern when dealing with a government agency on a contract, acquisition expert Tim Sullivan says it's best to start from the ground up to fix the issue. In his latest commentary, he says going over someone's head could hurt your company in the long run.

  Management

  January 20, 2015
• Marketing tips for your small business

  Business development expert and consultant Bob Davis joins host Mark Amtower to discuss how marketing has changed over the years and what that means for your company. January 19, 2015

  Amtower Off-Center

  January 19, 2015
• DoD loses key IT exec; two formers are lured back to government

  Long-time and well-respected cybersecurity executive Mark Orndorff is calling it a government career on Jan. 31.

  Defense

  January 19, 2015
• A second bite at the Networx apple?

  GSA has made it clear the follow-on to Networx, called Network Services 2020, will live up to its name with most agencies not completely migrating to the new contract for another five years.

  Technology

  January 19, 2015
• FITARA implementation begins

  The Chief Information Officer's Council held a meeting last week to discuss the Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act and ensure there is consistent implementation across the government.

  Technology

  January 19, 2015
• August Cole, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council

  New acquisition initiatives are out from the Air Force. The search for innovation in acquisition takes many IT leaders in government to Silicon Valley. August Cole is Director of the Art of Future War program in the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security at the Atlantic Council. He's also a writer-in-residence at Avascent. On In Depth with Francis Rose, he said the defense industrial base should engage Silicon Valley.

  All News

  January 16, 2015
• USCIS eyes more collaboration, competition in move to agile development

  Mark Schwartz, the Citizenship and Immigration Services chief information officer, said the Flexible Agile Development Services (FADS) requires four vendors to coordinate software development and keep the government's best interest in mind.

  Ask the CIO

  January 16, 2015
• Rich Buetel, IT Acquisition Expert & Policy Adviser

  After nearly three years on the job, Dan Tangherlini announced yesterday that he will be stepping down as administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA). His last day is Feb. 13. The agency today, however, is very different from the one he took over in 2012. Rich Buetel, a longtime Hill staff member and an IT acquisition expert, joined Tom Temin on the Federal Drive with more on those changes, as well as what might be next for GSA.

  Federal Drive

  January 16, 2015
• Air Force to reshape ‘cost curve’ via targeted acquisition reforms

  A new series of acquisition changes called "Bending the Cost Curve" aims to make the overall Air Force acquisition process more responsive to technological advances, and reduce the time it takes to buy major weapons systems. The Air Force Research Lab will host a technology challenge program with the largest award in military history.

  Defense

  January 16, 2015
• Larry Allen, President, Allen Federal Business Partners

  Dan Tangherlini is leaving as administrator of the General Services Administration. He tells GSA personnel in an email today that his last day will be Feb. 13. Larry Allen is president of Allen Federal Business Partners and author of the Week Ahead newsletter. On In Depth with Francis Rose, he reviewed the legacy of Dan Tangherlini at GSA.

  All News

  January 15, 2015
• Tangherlini stepping down as GSA administrator

  Nearly three years after coming to the General Services Administration in the wake of the Western Regions Conference scandal, Dan Tangherlini announced he's leaving government Feb. 13.

  Management

  January 15, 2015
• Does CIO stand for ‘chief information officer’ or ‘career is over’?

  With the challenges that chief information officers face today, it is worth asking whether becoming a CIO is worth the work and jeopardy it seems to entail, says former FAA IT leader Bob Woods in a new commentary.

  Defense

  January 15, 2015