Civilian agencies are largely spared from the deep cuts the White House originally offered as a way to offset an $18 billion proposal for more military spending and additional funds to pay for President Donald Trump’s wall along the southern border.
Source: Most civilian agencies saved from deep spending cuts in FY17 budget bill
When President Trump signed his “Buy American” executive order two weeks ago, it wasn’t exactly a revolution in procurement policy: domestic sourcing preferences have been enshrined in federal law since the Great Depression, alongside numerous exemptions that have evolved over the years to let acquisition officials accomplish their jobs.
Bill Woods, director of IT acquisition and sourcing management issues. GAO
Nearly a third of federal contract spending or around $130 billion a year goes through indefinite delivery – indefinite quantity contracts (IDIQ). It’s a surprisingly durable practice. But the product mix has shifted and not all the buying is competitive. Bill Woods, director of IT acquisition and sourcing management issues at the Government Accountability Office, provides an update on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.
Source: Bill Woods: Not all buying is competitive under IDIQs – FederalNewsRadio.com
Two high-profile federal procurements continue to suffer delays because of bid protests.
Source: Mega-contracts from GSA, DHS continue to spin on the protest hamster wheel – FederalNewsRadio.com
House Armed Services Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) says he will release his yearly acquisition reform proposals to the public in the next few weeks.
Source: Yearly defense acquisition reform bill coming soon – FederalNewsRadio.com
The Trump administration has most of Washington on the edge of their seats waiting to see what comes next, and federal contracting is no different.
Source: 8 trends to keep ahead of in federal contracting – FederalNewsRadio.com
When incumbent services contractors see a recompetition coming, it often sets off their “spidey sense.” But there are limits to how much a contractor can control the solicitation put out by the agency for which it’s working. Procurement attorney Joseph Petrillo of Petrillo and Powell shares a recent case in point on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.
Source: Joseph Petrillo: When contractors face a recompetition – FederalNewsRadio.com
After years of steady declines, spending on contracts by the armed forces and Defense agencies are heading back up. Andrew Hunter, director of the defense-industrial initiatives group at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins Federal Drive with Tom Temin with more.
Source: Andrew Hunter: Defense spending back on the rise – FederalNewsRadio.com
Senior Army leaders have already laid out firm, prescriptive timetables for commanders to shut down hundreds of government-owned data centers over the next two years. Now the service has a one-stop contract vehicle specific to the task, and using it is not optional.
Source: Army says several cloud RFPs already in the works under new ACCENT contract – FederalNewsRadio.com
By bringing in a baker’s dozen of current and former federal IT experts, the Government Accountability Office’s Dave Powner likely knew what he was getting into. There would be no shortage of passion and strong opinions about what’s going right and wrong with the Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA).
Source: 30 ways to improve federal IT reform efforts – FederalNewsRadio.com