Management

The White House Has Raised Contract Spending Goals for Small, Disadvantaged Businesses

The Office of Management and Budget is directing agencies to award at least 12% of all federal contracting dollars to small disadvantaged businesses in fiscal 2023.

Workforce

VA Acquisition Workforce Are Mostly Satisfied, Despite Reported Program Issues

A large majority of acquisition staff at the Department of Veterans Affairs said in a recent Government Accountability Office survey that they are satisfied in their current positions, despite continued issues with the VA’s acquisition programs.

Oversight

Archivist Confirmation Hearing Turns to Politics Behind Mar-a-Lago Search

Republicans seized on a traditionally "sleepy" confirmation process to draw attention to the National Archives and Records Administration's involvement in the FBI search of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.

Management

The VA Owned Up to Acquisition Woes During a House Hearing

Lawmakers grilled Veterans Affairs Department officials over a series of significant failures within its acquisition programs and modernization efforts.

Tech

Biden Adds Cyber, Data, Supply Chain Risks to CFIUS Reviews

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States will be required to consider five new sets of national security concerns – including cybersecurity – when reviewing foreign investments in the U.S. as part of a new executive order.

Workforce

White House Seeks Input on Federal Evidence Agenda For LGBTQI+ Equity

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy wants to know about possible blind spots preventing agencies from understanding what disparities are impacting the LGBTQI+ community nationwide, from accessing healthcare to housing.

Management

The National Archives Recovered More Than 100 Classified Documents from Trump in January

The more than 700 pages of classified material included documents relating to special access programs – some of the nation's most closely held secrets.

Tech

New Report Warns of a Growing 'Data Divide'

The Center for Data Innovation says a lack of collection and use of data across demographics is leading to disparities in access to critical services.

Tech

Former CISA Chief Wants a New, Cross-Cutting New Agency to Lead Federal Cyber

Chris Krebs wants to establish a new agency to focus on privacy, data and cyber risks facing the U.S., or to pull the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency from under the Department of Homeland Security.

Defense

VA Systems are Vulnerable to Cyber Intrusions Due to Lack of Effective Oversight, Report Says

The Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General's office said the agency is "leaving its systems vulnerable to compromise by impostors who may gain access to protected information."

Tech

Senate Passes a Bill to Root out Conflicts of Interest in Federal Contracting

The Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition Act sets new disclosure requirements and expands authorities for federal contracting officers. 

Tech

Senators Introduce Bill to Ensure Resiliency of Federal Data Centers

The proposal would establish baseline safeguards for cybersecurity and physical issues like natural disasters.

Oversight

Lawmakers Call for DHS Inspector General to ‘Step Aside’ from Secret Service Probe

Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph Cuffari failed to notify Congress about the Secret Service’s refusal to comply with his office’s investigation for months, top lawmakers said. 

Management

A Bipartisan Bill Aims to Create One Disaster Recovery Assistance Application

Simplifying the application process would remove the burden on disaster survivors seeking federal assistance in the wake of hurricanes, floods, wildfires and more, lawmakers say.

Management

Small Business Contract Awards Hit Record $154B

But fewer of those companies are entering the federal market or competing for the work, the Small Business Administration says.

Workforce

VA Touts Improvements But Warns of Challenges for Digital GI Bill Platform

The Veterans Benefits Administration is still relying on ‘many legacy IT systems” as part of its digital GI Bill platform, which officials said were causing challenges in keeping up with emerging technologies in congressional testimony on Wednesday.

Defense

Cyber Looms Large in the House Defense Authorization Act

From establishing the National Digital Reserve Corps to setting term limits at CISA, here’s what you need to know about the tech and cyber amendments currently featured in the House version of the FY2023 NDAA.

Oversight

The State Department Releases a Draft of Its $10 Billion Plan to Upgrade Diplomatic Tech

The "Evolve" solicitation is designed to revamp the technology products and services used by U.S. diplomats at home and abroad.

Management

An SBA Team Targets Set-Aside Contracts Awarded to Ineligible Firms

The Office of Government Contracting and Business Development successfully steered over $5 billion in contracting opportunities for small businesses away from firms that were ineligible for set-asides.