Hurd’s effort to modernize federal information systems survives defense policy bill negotiations.
Source: Provision to modernize federal IT in compromise defense bill | TheHill
In Fiscal-Year 2018, 20 Super Information Technology (IT) Tasks Orders with combined ceiling values of more than $4.4 billion, and spending to date of more than $4 billion will exceed their ultimate expiration date and become eligible for competition (see Exhibit 1). We define a Super IT Task Order as an individual task order awarded under the umbrella of an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) or Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC). We required that the IDIQ or GWAC contain a selected pool of contractors, who compete on request for task order proposals. We ensured all task orders had a distinct primary contract vehicle number and task order contract number.
It’s been a year since the Office of Federal Procurement Policy released and accepted comments on its draft circular around category management.
Source: OFPP drafts memo to replace category management circular – FederalNewsRadio.com
Our sister publication Defense Systems has lined up a great group of speakers for their conference on Nov. 14, so I wanted to call some attention to it.
The Defense Systems Summit is Nov. 14 at the Pentagon City Ritz Carlton in Arlington, Va.
Source: Modernization, cyber take center stage at Defense Systems Summit — Washington Technology
A mandatory arbitration agreement with an employee or independent contractor may be prohibited in relation to certain government contracts, as seen in a recent
Source: Binding Arbitration in Employment Contracts? Not in Some Federal Government Work – SmallGovCon
Months after they were required to make their financial data public, their reports are rife with errors.
A Senate-proposed “loser pays” mandate on major contracts was watered down.
Source: Defense Authorization Bill Allows Pilot Program on Curbing Bid Protests – Defense – GovExec.com
In this edition of CIO Quick Takes, four IT leaders reveal what they think vendors need to know about the CIO role and the buying process. Recent data trends have given this evergreen topic new life and urgency.
Source: CIOs reveal what vendors need to know about the IT purchasing process
As promised, we are bringing you an update to our October 30th posting concerning the contract awarded to Whitefish Energy by the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) to help restore electricity on the island (see Whitefish Energy). This $300 million contract at rates exceeding $240 per hour for electrical linemen awarded to a company with two full-time employees raised a lot of concern by both Democrats and Republicans in Congress as well as several oversight agencies including Offices of Inspector Generals. One Congressman termed it a “sweetheart deal to a fly-by-night company”.
Source: PNWC’s Government Contracting Update: Whitefish Energy Contract to Restore Puerto Rico Electricity
Photographs can help define an era. Boomers grew up with enduring images that became classics. The kid poking a flower down the National Guard soldier’s rifle. The body of the student shot by an Ohio guardsman at Kent State University. Lyndon Johnson showing off his gall bladder surgery scar. Mohammed Ali jokingly punching the Beatles. You can buy framed copies of that one.
Source: What if a federal employee gives the president the finger? – FederalNewsRadio.com
