Recent Reports Focus on Improving Contracting

June 5, 2008
A number of recent government reports have focused on contracting issues related to the federal workforce, competition, and agency contracting. Below is a summary of those reports. Read more.

Davis Announces Formation of Bipartisan “Smart Contracting Caucus”

May 22, 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Seven-term Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., ranking member and former chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has announced the formation of the "Smart Contracting Caucus." Read more.

Inspector General Report Highlights Challenges in Iraq Reconstruction

On April 28, the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) provided an interim report on the progress being made in Iraq reconstruction projects.  The SIGIR report offers important insights into the difficulties that have been experienced in this unprecedented reconstruction and development effort in this unprecedented geographic location.  While poor performance is an issue in a small number of cases, and certainly unacceptable, the report’s most compelling findings revolve around the challenges associated with the security environment, expectations that exceed capabilities, conducting business in a shattered economy which bears little resemblance to a “traditional” market, and more. Read more.

Defense acquisition chief requires program managers to sign tenure agreements

By Elizabeth Newell, Government Executive, 4/21/08
The Defense Department's chief acquisition official is reinforcing a policy to make leadership continuity a top priority for weapons programs, in the wake of an annual report that cited frequent management changes as one cause of cost overruns and delays. Read more.

GSA forms panel to review pricing policies

By Gautham Nagesh, Government Executive, 4/18/08
Facing complaints about its pricing policies and oversight, the General Services Administration announced on April 17 that they have formed an advisory panel to review policies for its Multiple Award Schedule contracts. Read more.

Fraud Notification Bill—A Step in Wrong Direction, PSC Testifies

April 15, 2008, Arlington, Va.—The Professional Services Council (PSC) testified Tuesday that legislation aimed at federal contractors (H.R. 5712) would do little to reduce fraud in government contracting, would raise numerous legal issues, and would increase administrative costs far beyond its benefits. Read more.

Contractors are here to stay

By Florence Olsen, Federal Computer Week, 4/14/08
When presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) declared in 2007 that she would eliminate 500,000 federal contractors if elected president, some policy experts said she couldn’t do it. One of those experts was Steven Schooner, senior associate dean of academic affairs and associate professor of law at George Washington University. Read more.

American Defense Contractors Mark Five Years as Hostages

by Senator Joseph I. Lieberman
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs
Throughout our history, the American military has relied on the private sector in what has been called a “great arsenal of democracy” to provide weapons and supplies for our fighting forces. But once it delivered the goods, the responsibilities of private industry ended.

Over the past 15 years, we have seen a significant expansion of the role of private firms from just the manufacturers of military supplies to the suppliers of crucial military services, like the logistical support of our troops, the training of foreign police and armies, the conduct of interrogations, and the provision of armed security details. Read more.