Acquisition News 
Top News
- OMB reworking financial systems to focus on outcomes, not inputs
- OMB taps VanRoekel to lead management team
- Lew taps government retiree pension fund to avoid default
- PHOTOS: Meet the 2013 Service to America Medal Finalists
- Hagel: Accountability breakdown was leading factor in sexual assaults
- Former IRS commissioner faces questions about Tea Party
- SBA starting new lending program for veterans
- New Apple devices cleared to join DoD IT networks
- Army prioritizes access to data in fight over intelligence IT system
- DoD upends slow approval process for mobile devices
- Senior execs' bonuses under fire at agencies
- Gould moves the needle on many of VA's toughest challenges
- Tuesday federal headlines - May 21, 2013
GAO: Lack of guidance stymies efforts to review DoD service contracts
In 2008, Congress mandated the Pentagon to keep an inventory of service contracts and review it annually to make sure government work wasn't being improperly outsourced. But the Government Accountability Office, in a recent report, found a lack of guidance from the top has led to challenges in implementing that requirement.
Packard becomes DISA's new deputy for procurement
Douglas Packard comes to the job from the Army's Mission and Installation Contracting Command in Fort Eustis, Va.
Liability and contracting
McKenna Long & Aldridge Partner Jason Workmaster and David Dowd, partner at Mayer Brown will discuss what contractors can do to avoid liability issues.
April 10, 2012
New DISA procurement official named
Douglas Packard has been appointed to the Senior Executive Service for the Defense Department and will serve as the no. 2 official for procurement at the Defense Information Systems Agency.
White House touts success of agency 'challenges'
Increasingly, agencies are using a tool at their disposal. Instead of issuing RFP's, they're issuing challenges. And according to a new report from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, agencies that have jumped on the challenge bandwagon have begun to "reap the rewards of well-designed prizes integrated into a broader innovation strategy."
The current state of contracting
Host Mark Amtower talks about the big contracting issues with Northrup Grumman's Ed Swallow and Dan Mintz from PowerTek Corporation.
April 9, 2012(Encore presentation April 23, 2012)
DoD awarding vet-owned contracts to ineligible firms, IG finds
Devon Hewitt, a partner at Protorae Law and a member of the American Legion's Small Business Task Force, summarizes the findings of the DoD IG report on contracting with service-disabled veteran-owned businesses.
Analysis: Further actions against GSA commissioners remain a possibility
Although scandal rocked the General Services Administration's leadership this last week, it remains unclear whether the four regional commissioners out on leave would face criminal prosecution.
GAO examines DoD's audit stance, weapons portfolio
Asif Khan, the director of financial management and assurance at GAO, and Mike Sullivan, the director of Acquisition and Sourcing Management Issues, joined Pentagon Solutions with Francis Rose to discuss two recent GAO report.
Arma, Thales awarded deployed equipment contracts
U.S. Special Forces Command awarded two big contracts to Arma Global Corporation and Thales Communications.
What's new at the U.S. Postal Service?
Bill Doucette, head of Federal Sector Sales at the U.S. Postal Service, joins host Roger Waldron to talk about some of the agency's programs and services.
April 3, 2012
Ship competition may offer Navy a buying model for the future
Lockheed Martin and Austal are currently building 55 Littoral Combat Ships for the Navy. Kevin Brancato, a defense analyst for BGov and author of the report, "'Real Competition' for The Littoral Combat Ship," discusses how the Navy's competition between the two contractors may serve as a model for future acquisitions.
Media use by feds
Market Connections President Lisa Dezzutti joins host Mark Amtower to discuss how federal agencies are using traditional and social media in their marketing efforts.
April 2, 2012
F-35 cost estimates increase in defense acquistion cost report
The Defense Department estimates its major acquisition programs are costing $1.6 trillion, slightly less than previously estimates.
Controlling contract costs spurs more questions, few answers
A Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee subcommittee heard testimony Thursday on a seemingly simple subject: Is it cheaper for the federal government to employ its own workforce or hire contractors? But industry groups representing government contractors say the question is often more complicated than it might seem.
FAA awards cyber contract to lock down personally identifiable information
The Federal Aviation Administration has chosen cybersecurity firm Lunarline to lock down personally identifiable information in its systems. The company says it'll help the agency prevent unauthorized access and disclosure of such material.
OFPP readying round 2 of Mythbusters
Acting administrator Lesley Field said this version will focus on trying to dispel myths commonly held by industry. Agencies also posted their vendor communications plans on FedBizOpps.gov as part of the initial Mythbusters campaign.
Oxygen problem in F-22 Raptor remains a mystery
An Air Force advisory panel says it still can't explain what caused blackouts and dizziness among pilots flying its supersonic F-22 Raptor.
Three agencies fall short in assessing IT supply chain risks
Gregory Wilshusen, GSA's director of information security issue, discussed a recent report about IT supply chain risks with The Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Emily Kopp
GSA pins contracting hopes on OASIS
Steve Kempf, commissioner of federal acquisition service at GSA, joined The Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Emily Kopp before his speech at the Acquisition Excellence conference
