Contracting

  • A report to the UN Secretary General indicated North Korea is in danger of another food crisis this winter because of poor harvests. A South Korean Unification Ministry spokesman reaffirmed the government policy of not providing large scale food aid to North Korea, regardless of need unless the political atmosphere improves. Prior to the 2008 election of the hard line Lee administration, the South provided 400,000 tons of rice and 300,000 tons of fertilizer to the North annually. The government in Seoul will still approve private humanitarian relief, such as a recent shipment of rice and supplies for flood victims.

    October 27, 2010
  • The U.S. Army Sustainment Command has awarded Honeywell logistics contracts worth more than $230 million to manage global inventory, maintenance and operations for three Army Field Support Brigades.

    October 27, 2010
  • Host John Gilroy speaks with Robert Rodriguez, CEO of the Security Innovation Network (SINET) on the organization\'s SINET Showcase. October 26, 2010

    October 26, 2010
  • Jonathan Aronie writes in the Government Contracts blog that SBA\'s suspension of GTSI could have industry-wide implications.

    October 26, 2010
  • What\'s behind the creation of Acquisition University and how far can acquisition changes be expected to drive improved government management? Host Larry Allen discusses these issues with General William Tuttle, Chairman of the Procurement Round Table. October 26, 2010

    October 26, 2010
  • North Korea might be preparing for another nuclear test. Reports of increased activity detected by US imaging satellites and South Korean reports of \"brisk movement\" of people and vehicles at the site of the North\'s 2006 nuclear tests are the bases for the spike in concern. Kim Chong-un probably requires some sensational grand gesture to validate his leadership, however severe the backlash. He needs something he can claim as his own idea. Pyongyang leadership should recognize that it cannot bear the economic impact of more sanctions. The NightWatch prediction is that there will be no nuclear test before 2011, but there may be some other sensational or provocative action.

    October 26, 2010
  • GSA is ramping up cloud computing, preparing the next two governmentwide contracts for cloud computing. Agency issues notice that a RFP could be issued by early 2011. GSA also considering geospatial platform-as-a-service offering later next year.

    October 26, 2010
  • Federal CIO Kundra said an upcoming conference will help agencies share and find best practices for prioritizing data sets. Departments are struggling to meet stake holder demands for opening up data. Kundra said more and more these data sets are leading to third party applications.

    October 26, 2010
  • Federal agencies are challenged with how to treat worker grievances from contractors, who do not have the same mediation procedures as federal workers.

    October 25, 2010
  • American hikers Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal will stand trial in Iran on November 6th, according to the Swiss ambassador in Tehran. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Iranian authorities should exercise the humanitarian option and release them, adding that the US does not believe there is a basis for the arrest charges. The United States and Iran need to discuss many matters of significance, Clinton stated. Movement to trial should enable the release of the two men, though they probably will be convicted and given a prison sentence. That scenario will give President Ahmadi-Nejad a platform and opportunity to show forgiveness, provided of course the men show proper remorse.

    October 25, 2010
  • Learn more about an upcoming summit to tackle cybersecuriy issues.

    October 25, 2010
  • The Homeland Security Department extended the contract for its SBINet program until Nov. 17.

    October 22, 2010
  • Stan Krejci of the SK Group discusses the idea of a board of advisers with host Mark Amtower. Does your company need one? How should you assmble one? October 22, 2010

    October 22, 2010
  • According to Japanese lawmakers, the opposition Liberal Democratic Party is considering legislation that would add territorial policing to the responsibilities of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, following the recent dispute with China over the Senkaku Islands. The legislation would empower the naval force to respond to territorial violations by foreign aircraft and ships. Under current law, the Self-Defense Force can only respond to armed attacks against Japan or domestic unrest. Maritime disputes are not over, and the Japanese are adding naval firepower to their side for future incidents. The ruling coalition led by the Democratic Party has not commented.

    October 22, 2010
  • Timothy Hughes, counsel at the law firm of Bean, Kinney & Korman, joined the DorobekINSIDER to discuss GSA\'s requirement that GSA-owned building projects have LEED Gold certification.

    October 21, 2010