Search Tags:  OFPP

New interagency contracts now require business cases

The FAR Councils issued an interim rule requiring changes to the use of and oversight of interagency contracts. OFPP reports that agencies spent $52 billion on multiple award and GWACs in 2009. The new requirements will help get that spending under better control, the councils say.

Tags: contracting , Dan Gordon , OMB , FAR Councils , Interagency contracting , multiple award contracts , GWACs , Jason Miller

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Tip to OMB: earlier communication would help IT

Contracting officers have been reluctant to wade into RFPs. Steve Schooner says they should, in fact, be at the very center of discussions right from the start. The professor of federal contracting tells us why.

Tags: Federal Drive , contracting , NCMA 2010 , Steve Schooner , OMB , technology , IT management reforms

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OMB plans to bust IT contracting myths

The Office of Management and Budget said many feds responsible for IT acquisition are so cautious about running afoul of ethics rules that they're passing up what could be productive interactions with the industry. The administration plans to start an awareness campaign to improve communication between agencies and vendors.

Tags: technology , management , contracting , OMB , ethics , Vivek Kundra , Bob Dix , Dan Gordon , Paul Brub

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Frontline Forum returns to improve procurement

Dan Gordon of OFPP discusses the return of the Frontline Forum meetings.

Tags: Frontline Forum , contracting , procurement , Steve Kelman , best practices , Dan Gordon , Dorobek Insider

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Survey: Acquisition policy doesn't translate

A new survey from the Professional Services Council and Grant Thornton finds contracting officers don't always find new guidance helpful in how they do their job. Acquisition workers also say too much oversight is causing innovation to be muted.

Tags: contracting , OMB , Stan Soloway , Lew Crenshaw , PSC , Grant Thornton , time and materials contracts , high risk contracts , Recovery Act contracting , Jason Miller

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OFPP calls for Fed to contractor ratio analysis

A new memo from the Office of Federal Procurement Policy gives agencies until June to determine whether the number of contractors performing services is appropriate. First, however, agencies must develop a service contract inventory and make it public. OFPP said for agencies to initially focus on professional and management services and technology services.

Tags: contracting , industry , Dan Gordon , service contract inventory , insourcing , inherently governmental , Jason Miller

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AcqStat sessions give broader view of challenges

OFPP is holding these meetings with large agencies to understand how they are meeting the Obama administration's acquisition goals. The sessions are similar to the TechStat sessions, but they're not at the program level. OFPP also is finalizing rules around multiple award contracts and schedule bidding.

Tags: contracting , Lesley Field , Dan Gordon , GSA , Federal Acquisition Institute , Coalition for Government Procurement , GSA schedules , multiple award contracting , acquisition workforce , Frontline Forums , AcqStat , Contracting Functional Advisory Boards , Jason Miller

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Scorecard adds heat to insourcing debate

A coalition of businesses, associations and citizen groups rate members of Congress on how they voted on bills that promote or hurt private sector companies and forces industry to compete with the government. But some experts say the business coalition is taking a too narrow view of what the government does.

Tags: industry , contracting , Robert Tobias , Angela Styles , John Palatiello , Colleen Kelley , Crowell and Moring , American University , NTEU , Business Coalition for Fair Procurement , insourcing , public-private competition , Jason Miller

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OFPP looks for better green purchasing data

A new survey on how well agencies contract for sustainable products and services is under development. GSA and OFPP also are taking other steps to promote green purchasing including training courses and changes to acquisition regulations.

Tags: contracting , Cyndi Vallani , Dana Arnold , GSA , EPA , GreenGov Symposium , green purchasing , biobased products , Energy Star , EPEAT , green government , Jason Miller

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GSA's office supply contract causes concern

The General Services Administration freezes Schedule 75 to new vendors shortly after awarding a new strategic sourcing contract for office supplies. Small businesses say the combination of the two could have a detrimental effect on their ability to sell to the government. GSA expects to save $52 million a year across government from the BPA's lower prices.

Tags: contracting , Paul McDermott , GSA , Mike Tucker , George W. Allen Company , Chris Bates , National Office Products Alliance , Schedule 75 , office supplies , strategic sourcing , Jason Miller

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