GSA News 
Top News
- OMB reworking financial systems to focus on outcomes, not inputs
- Lew taps government retiree pension fund to avoid default
- OMB taps VanRoekel to lead management team
- 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
Business development, FSSI, and more
Carl Dickson, founder of CapturePlanning.com, joins host Mark Amtower to talk about doing business with the government.
January 14, 2013
FAR Council finalizing nine rules in 2013
The semi-annual regulatory agenda highlights final and proposed changes to the federal acquisition and agency-specific acquisition regulations.
Inside the Reporter's Notebook: GSA FAS, shared services and DHS contract awards
News and buzz in the acquisition and IT communities that you may have missed this week.
Historic buildings throw wrench in agencies real-property efforts
In a new report, the Government Accountability Office found tighter budgets in recent years have constrained agencies' ability to maintain and repair historic buildings and that poor data practices have led to inconsistent and erroneous information on a database designed to track federal properties.
New era of social media pushes agencies toward data, away from platforms
GSA, State and the Air Force are starting to see the benefits of using social media data to improve services and not focusing so much on how it's delivered. Challenges and contests are examples of this information-centric approach. But the dependence on and acceptance of social media platforms is growing across nearly every agency.
GSA adopts new mileage reimbursement rates
The agency raised the rate for using a privately owned vehicle to $0.565 per mile. Rates for airplane travel and motorcycles also went up.
The top ten federal stories of 2012
Michael Keating, senior editor for Government Product News, joins host Mark Amtower to talk about the GSA scandal, and other big stories in 2012.
January 7, 2013
Federal Drive Interviews -- Jan. 7, 2013
Jimmy Christianson of the Associated General Contractors of America discusses government construction projects currently underway. Billy House of the National Journal talks about an article he wrote on the new Congress. Roger Waldron, president of the Coalition for Government Procurement, talks about GSA's Multiple Awards Schedule. Tim Solms of Microsoft discusses a new deal his company signed with DoD. Lisa Wolfe of Federal News Radio sheds light on a new website for federal job seekers. Brian Friel of Bloomberg Government talks about the new bill providing federal Sandy relief spending.
GSA changes its model for the next generation telecom effort
The Network Services 2020 initiative will not be a large worldwide contract as the Networx and FTS procurements were over the past 20 years. GSA still is developing the overall strategy, but plans to use a similar approach it used with DISA on the recent satellite communications contract.
GSA predicts 'steady rollout' of new FedRAMP authorizations
After the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) certified the first cloud-computing services company last month, the General Services Administration is predicting a steady wave of new approvals later this year. The length of time it has taken the initial 78 companies or products in the FedRAMP pipeline to gain approval is a testament to the rigorous process, said Dave McClure, GSA's associate administrator in the Office of Citizen Services and Innovative Technologies.
GSA calls for travel advisory committee nominations
The General Services Administration is soliciting nominations for individuals to serve on the 15-member Government-wide Travel Advisory Committee. The new committee will oversee agency travel policies to ensure that they are transparent and efficient.
GSA challenges real estate developers with a 'once-in-a-several-lifetimes' opportunity
The General Services Administration issued two requests for information earlier this month to redevelop the FBI headquarters building and the area of Washington known as Federal Triangle South. Acting Administrator Dan Tangherlini said he's willing to entertain any and all ideas for saving the government money, making the buildings more efficient and helping to transform the neighborhoods.
OMB delaying budget passback guidance, creating uncertainty
The White House typically gives agencies both funding and policy updates for the upcoming budget request by Thanksgiving. This year OMB decided to hold off on passback guidance because of the current fiscal negotiations with Congress. Several senior agency officials said this lag will compress the timeline to respond to the information and require them to prepare for something that may never happen.
DHS issues $6B RFQ for continuous monitoring tools, services
The blanket purchase agreement lists 15 tools and 11 service areas that DHS wants vendors to provide to improve agency cybersecurity.
Federal Drive Interviews -- Dec. 18, 2012
Bob Litan of Bloomberg Government talks about a new study on reducing the deficit. Procurement attorney Joe Petrillo weighs in on a recent GAO decision. Lisa Pape discusses the Veterans Health Administration's efforts to reduce homelessness among veterans. Charles Paidock of the NFFE union talks about a proposal that would have some feds emptying their own waste bins. Hord Tipton reviews how the certification process is keeping up with new technology.
Changes in federal acquisition environment taking toll on vendors
Preliminary results from a Grant Thornton survey of contractors show profits, revenues and overall participation in the government market is down. The pressure from the administration's steps to reign in high risk contracts and reduce spending is having an impact on most contractors. The Navy, for example, is trying to be more disciplined in how it buys goods and services.
GSA expands discounted commodity IT program
The General Services Administration announced Thursday it had awarded 43 blanket-purchase agreements to small businesses to provide discounted commodity IT through the agency's National Information Technology Commodity Program (NITCP). The NITCP is designed to provide agencies a one-stop shop for the most commonly purchased, low-cost IT products.
Agencies turn to social media to engage public in an emergency
During Hurricane Sandy, agencies like FEMA and NOAA used various social media platforms to communicate with the public. They were able to dispel rumors and follow the situation on the ground as it unfolded.
GSA further details plans to consolidate back-office functions
The agency issued an RFQ on the MOBIS schedule for assistance in reducing the duplication and increasing efficiency across the CFO, CIO, CPO and Administrative Services offices. The solicitation follows acting Administrator Dan Tangherlini's top-to-bottom review of GSA's administrative functions.
End may be sight for FBI's unloved Hoover building
This past week, the GSA issued an invitation to developers: How would you like to build a new headquarters for the FBI in a different location? In exchange, they'll consider throwing in the J. Edgar Hoover building and the underlying land as part of the transaction.
