Contracting News 
Top News
- DoD to pursue commercial alternative to VA's VistA
- FedRAMP achieves another cloud security milestone
- OMB reworking financial systems to focus on outcomes, not inputs
- PHOTOS: Meet the 2013 Service to America Medal Finalists
- Causey: Today, everybody's a Sooner
- House GOP panel moves on deep budget cuts
- Star witness to stay mum for IRS hearing
- VanRoekel to lead OMB management team
- Lew taps government retiree pension fund
- 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
- Wednesday federal headlines - May 22, 2013
Sequestration and DoD
Jonathan Etherton, president of Etherton and Associates Inc., joins host Roger Waldron to talk about a number of federal procurement issues.
February 28, 2012(Encore presentation May 29, 2012)
Air Force investigating disputed plane contract
The U.S. Air Force said Tuesday it plans to rescind a disputed $354 million contract for a light air support plane and open an investigation into the award, saying it was not satisfied with documentation supporting the decision.
Report: Many small-business contracts awarded to large companies
Some of the biggest contracts for small businesses are awarded to companies that are not that small, according to a recent report from the American Small Business League. Brian Reeder, the league's communications director, joined In Depth with Francis Rose to discuss the report's findings.
VA issues stop-work order on crucial element of e-health record system
The Department of Veterans Affairs has issued a stop-work order on a key component of the integrated electronic health record system it isdeveloping with the Defense Department. Virginia-based ASM Research won the $103 million contract.
Analysis: 2013 budget request still has opportunities for contractors
The buzz in the contracting community with the release of the 2013 budget request is that companies will have to fight harder to get — and keep — business with federal agencies. Ray Bjorklund, the vice president and chief knowledge officer at Deltek, joined In Depth with Francis Rose to discuss his take on the administration's 2013 budget request.
OMB reports contract spending stayed flat in 2011
A new report shows agencies already cut the use of management-support contracts by 7 percent in 2011. OMB details four focus areas to continue to reduce spending on contracts for 2012.
Air Force has new plan to increase small business contracting
The service will use both penalties and incentives to get their program offices and large businesses to award more prime and subcontracts to small firms. The Air Force issued a new small business improvement plan that details three goals to increase both the percentage of contracts and dollars going to small companies.
Will insider-trading bill chill dialogue between contractors, government?
Talking to their federal customers is a critical part of a contractor's job. But under the STOCK Act — short for Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge — could make that more difficult. Trey Hodgkins, the senior vice president for National Security and Procurement Policy at TechAmerica, joined In Depth with Francis Rose to discuss the proposal.
Annuitants give the Army an acquisition workforce boost
The military service depends on retired federal workers' expertise to help with policy development and buying goods and services. Congress extended the ability of agencies to hire annuitants through 2015. The Army said these experienced workers are helping to fill the acquisition workforce gaps that it created with huge reductions in the 1990s.
GSA preparing business case for next GWAC
The agency wants to make it easier for customers to buy non-IT professional services under one contract. Mary Davie, assistant commissioner at the Federal Acquisition Service, said the business case will be posted for governmentwide review by June.
All things procurement
Host Roger Waldron talks federal procurement with David Drabkin, corporate director for Acquisition Policy at the Northrop Grumman Corporation.
February 21, 2012
Executive search firms
Boxwood Executive Search President Bert Sadtler will talk about how government agencies use executive search firms.
February 20, 2012
House Small Biz Committee taking on contracting reform
The Federal Drive with Tom Temin. spoke with Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), chairman of the House Small Business Committee.
Bill seeks small biz protection in 'unfair' contract bundling
A bill introduced in the House today aims to give small businesses more opportunities in contract bundling.
GSA creating cloud marketplace for federal services
The goal is for agencies to offer on a fee-for-service basis excess cloud capacity. GSA's Dave McClure said financial management, human resources, customer relationship management and geospatial services are some of the possible offerings.
Senators introduce long-awaited cyber bill
The bill does not include Senate-confirmed White House cyber coordinator position. It does include new requirements under the Clinger-Cohen Act around acquisition. The comprehensive legislation complements several of the administration's 2013 budget proposals.
DoD website tracks contractor R&D spending
Ronald Kurjanowicz, director of strategy for defense research and engineering in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, talked with Federal News Radio's Jared Serbu and Jason Miller about how DoD hopes the rules will help DoD do a better job of leveraging industry's capabilities.
Congress mulls expansion of VA's system to verify veteran-owned firms
The Veterans Affairs Department's process for verifying eligibility in the service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses program could become standard procedure for all agencies. VA is the only department that checks to make sure contractors are eligible.
What's top of mind for contracting community?
Steve Charles, the co-founder and executive vice president of technology contractor ImmixGroup, joined In Depth with Francis Rose to discuss the issues contractors are facing.
SBA increases some small business size standards
Small businesses in 34 industries can earn more money and still be considered small by the government.
