Defense Systems

DOD to scrutinize contractors' support services

DOD will revise how its managers review contractors’ services that support work that is set aside for only government employees to perform.

Defense Systems

Ethics rule could slow DOD's revolving employment door

Defense Department employees who have worked on large procurements must get a written opinion from an ethics officer before signing on with a defense contractor.

Defense Systems

As NSPS ends, employees wait for what's next

Details about how DOD's pay-for-performance system will end—and what will replace it—are still being worked out, experts say.

Defense Systems

Senate bill would kill DOD performance pay, curtail sole-source contracts

The act would end the government's pay-for-performance system used for about 200,000 federal employees.

Defense Systems

4 lessons in rapid acquisition learned from DOD's new ATVs

DOD's purchase of all-terrain vehicles reinforces lessons about buying quickly and offers insights for improving rapid acquisitions, experts say.

Defense Systems

DOD’s pay-for-performance system may be near end

Labor unions have criticized the program for years.

Defense Systems

Air Force angers small businesses with code decision

Officials are opting for a NAICS code that sets a larger small-business size standard after switching this spring from a code with a more restrictive size standard.

Defense Systems

Senate passes Defense Authorization Act with new provision

The legislation would remove the “shall” in the law that some say gives small businesses in economically depressed areas first preference in contract set-asides.

Defense Systems

New bill blocks fees for vendors at fault for a fed's injury

The House passed the defense authorization bill June 25 by a vote of 389-22.

Defense Systems

New legislation would enforce defense acquisition reform

The fiscal 2010 National Defense Authorization Act seeks greater oversight of services and speedier ways to buy information technology.

Defense Systems

DOD acquisition support too thin in Iraq, Afghanistan

The Defense Department has too few trained acquisition employees to keep up with the increasingly expensive operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, commission states.

Defense Systems

Panel predicts DOD contracting workforce to expand

Defense Department officials are expanding the contracting workforce to better handle the money DOD is spending.

Defense Systems

Army to strengthen contract management

While wrestling with a long history of major contracting issues, the service intends to spend more money on overseeing and managing its contracts.

Defense Systems

DOD procurement protests grow with its spending

The number of protests against the Defense Department's contract awards increase along with DOD's spending, GAO says.

Defense Systems

Report: DOD needs to collect details on acquisition employees

Defense Department can't adequately assess what it has and needs without knowing more about its acquisition workforce, according to a new report.

Defense Systems

DOD needs more accountability for new programs

Most defense officials and program managers don't stick around long enough to be held accountable for decisions, according to the GAO.

Defense Systems

GAO: Defense acquisition reform requires strong action

Many defense experts and DOD officials believe successful changes will take strong, consistent strategic leadership to change the existing culture and acquisition environment, a new report states.

Defense Systems

Defense Act keeps OMB from directing competitions

Military officials said they felt more pressures from their branch's chain of command.

Defense Systems

DOD to draw up new COI proposals

The Defense Acquisition Regulatory Council has put on hold previously proposed rules on contractor conflicts of interest while regulators draw up new proposals, according to documents updated Oct. 31.

Defense Systems

Army disputes GAO take on protests

The Army is concerned that GAO’s position — that contractors now can protest an agency’s decision under the fiscal 2008 National Defense Authorization Act — will “effectively graft the Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 15 requirements” onto the task order process, according to the decision document.