A model in which agencies share common functions is a central element of the White House’s vision to streamline IT across the government.
Source: Trump Administration Highlights the Importance of Shared Services | FedTech Magazine
Civilian agencies won’t see the dramatic spending cuts proposed by the Trump administration at least for a few months, with a continuing resolution expected to fund the government through Dec. 15.
Source: Civilian agencies guard their coffers as cuts loom — FCW
The Trump administration’s IT modernization plan issued in late August looks to leverage a newly issued government wide telecommunications contract to lower agency costs, improve efficiencies and potentially jump-start IT modernization efforts at smaller agencies.
Source: How GSA’s EIS telecom contact might spur governmentwide IT upgrades — FCW
The Government Accountability Office went looking for “notable optimization successes” in its most recent update on how federal agencies were faring in meeting a White House-led initiative to consolidate and optimize use of government data centers.
Source: Most agencies ‘not planning’ to meet OMB data center goals, GAO says — FCW
While it is common practice to convert a default termination to a convenience termination, the outcome is hardly preordained.
Source: Termination For Default: The “No Reasonable Likelihood” Standard – SmallGovCon
A contractor may not be bound by a release of claims against the government when the person signing the release didn’t have appropriate authority
Source: Release of Claims: Contractor Signatory Must Have Authority – SmallGovCon
Government agencies rely heavily on the private sector to carry out their mission of preparing for and managing through various types of disasters, such as the major hurricanes that have been facing Texas and the Gulf region. This is important work that deserves to be prioritized higher than many other functions of government. Hundreds, even thousands, of lives hang in the balance each year – people who depend on public agencies to operate with peak effectiveness when it comes to disasters, led by government officials who must make wise decisions in the heat of the moment, and using impersonal rules and systems that are designed to facilitate rather than frustrate the process of recovery. Problems or mistakes at any of these levels can have major, and unacceptable impacts. Of all of the systems government relies on, perhaps none is more critical than those related to procurement policy for disasters, or the ways that a government agency hires and manages their network of vendors and contractors providing disaster related services.
Source: When it comes to hurricanes, proactive contracting saves lives | Onvia
Company and company president get debarred from Government contracting for selling defective parts to the Air Force. Then, the president promptly sets up several new companies, obscures his involvement/ownership and keeps on selling defective parts. How often does this happen? Probably more often than we think and certainly more often than we know about.
Source: PNWC’s Government Contracting Update: Debarred But Still Selling Under Shell Companies
An unsuccessful offeror unintentionally filed a size protest by sending a letter to the Contracting Officer commenting on the awardee’s size.
Source: Offeror Unintentionally Files Size Protest, Confuses SBA OHA – SmallGovCon
Last week was filled with developments affecting federal contractors, including progress, if you can call it that, on the budget front, people moving closer to key administration positions and fresh problems for background investigations. Alan Chvotkin, senior vice president and counsel at the Professional Services Council, offers his take on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.
Source: Alan Chvotkin: Slow progress on federal contracting front – FederalNewsRadio.com
