Contracting News 
Top News
- Data breach puts DHS workers at risk of ID theft
- DoD to pursue commercial alternative to VA's VistA system
- Obama to nominate Tangherlini as GSA administrator
- PHOTOS: Meet the 2013 Service to America Medal Finalists
- House GOP panel moves on deep budget cuts
- OMB fuels synergy between mobile, open data
- IRS official Lerner: 'I did nothing wrong'
- OMB reworking financial system requirements to focus on outcomes, not inputs
- Retirement funds temporarily tapped to avoid debt limit default
- VanRoekel to lead OMB management team
- SBA starting new lending program for veterans
- New Apple devices cleared to join DoD IT networks
- Bonuses under fire at GSA, other agencies
- Wednesday federal headlines - May 22, 2013
GAO dismisses protest over huge TRICARE contract
The Government Accountability Office has turned back a protest over a multibillion dollar contract to administer part of the military's TRICARE health insurance system, the losing bidder said Monday. The Comptroller General's decision was not publicly released as of Monday afternoon, but TriWest officials said they had been notified of the rejection.
FedBizOpps.gov contractor under FBI investigation
The government is investigating allegations against Symplicity Corp. for allegedly accessing without permission the internal networks of two competitors in the education sector. Symplicity, which runs three governmentwide websites, denies any wrongdoing and calls the government's search warrant a one-sided justification for the investigation. Experts say the company could face suspension from new federal procurements.
Lockheed machinists OK new labor deal, end strike
Lockheed Martin machinists ended their 10-week strike Thursday, approving a new labor deal that includes a $2,000 bonus and annual pay increases starting at 3 percent the first year.
VA wants to change vet-owned business re-verification from 1 to 2 years
The Veterans Affairs Department wants to change the frequency of reverifying veteran-owned businesses from once a year to once every two years, according to an interim final rule published in the Federal Register.
DHS hones dynamic approach to securing agency computer networks
Homeland Security releases policy and guidance on how departments and vendors will implement continuous monitoring and get away from static reports on the cyber health of their systems. DHS is hoping Congress approves a $200 million funding request to buy five different commercial cyber tools, a dashboard and a security data warehouse in 2013.
GSA's OASIS contract to streamline professional services offerings
The General Services Administration is months
away from releasing details of its
newest contract vehicle that will allow
agencies
to find professional services
solutions across disciplines. OASIS program
manager Jim Ghiloni gave a status update on the
contract.
June 26, 2012(Encore presentation July 10, 2012)
GSA, DISA face protests of billion dollar awards
CWTSatoTravel objected to the $1.4 billion E- Travel award going to Concur Technologies. SAIC protested DISA's $4.6 billion award for the Global Information Grid management services to Lockheed Martin. Both protestors are the incumbent contractors.
Lockheed exec gives vendor, government communications high marks
Linda Gooden, the executive vice president of the aerospace and technology giant's information systems and global solutions business area, said agencies are spending more time than ever helping contractors understand their needs. Gooden and Lockheed CEO Robert Stevens' statements are in stark contrast to comments made by a major competitor about the challenges companies face in talking to agencies.
Northrop Grumman scores cryptography contract
The Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman a three-year contract to upgrade cryptography in the country's intercontinental ballistic missile system.
DRC awarded $10 million in contracts with IRS
Dynamics Research Corporation has been awarded $10.2 million in contracts with the Internal Revenue Service. DRC will provide independent verification and validation services for the Credit Card Processor's systems and will be responsible for the system readiness and accuracy of the credit card program.
Reverse auctions not all a bed of roses, one expert says
Defense analyst Robert Levinson told the Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Emily Kopp that while reverse auctions can generate significant savings for the federal government, they do have their downside.
Lockheed CEO warns of increased government costs from sequestration
The largest federal contractor is struggling to prepare for about $1 trillion in cuts that are due to take effect in January. Retiring-CEO Robert Stevens said agencies will ask vendors to modify contracts and that in turn will drive up the costs of those programs. Lockheed Martin already is taking steps to reduce its spending by consolidating facilities and reducing staff.
Election preview
Host Roger Waldron talks about the upcoming fall elections with former Virginia congressman, and Deloitte Federal Government Affairs Director Tom Davis.
June 19, 2012
GSA considers alternatives to track contractors
For decades, the General Services Administration has contracted with the company Dun & Bradstreet to provide unique identifying numbers for businesses. These numbers — called Data Universal Numbering System or DUNS numbers — allow GSA to track contractors and other recipients of federal funds. But the cost of using this service has grown from $1 million in 2002 to about $19 million per year under the current contract.
Agencies have much to learn from bid protest process
Joseph Petrillo, a federal contract attorney with Petrillo and Powell, agreed with a recent report that bid protests help to keep the federal government honest. Unfortunately, the 2,000 or so annual bid protests are just a drop in the bucket of the millions of possible protestable contract actions out there.
All things SEWP
Joanne Woytek, program manager of NASA SEWP talks about the government wide contract vehicle and its goals and missions for the future.
June 18, 2012(Encore presentation July 16, 2012)
Wartime contracting reform bill reintroduced
Senators Claire McCaskill and Jim Webb gain bipartisan support on legislation designed to decrease wasteful spending. Some provisions in the bill regarding accountability have been strengthened.
Lockheed lands big Defense IT contract
Lockheed Martin, the federal government's largest contractor landed up to $1.9 billion worth of work Friday in a deal to operate Defense Department networks across the globe.
DHS improving aim to stop counterfeits at the borders
The Homeland Security Department is taking a two-pronged approach to protecting the federal supply chain. The first addresses the DHS mission cargo crossing into the U.S. The second is an interagency effort to ensure the government is working together on investigations. DHS said seizures of counterfeit goods at the border increased by 20 percent in 2011.
SSA to upgrade data network under $233M deal
The Social Security Administration awarded CenturyLink a follow-on deal under the Networx telecommunications contract.
