Oversight

Critic calls OMB program evaluations biased

Process should be reformed to include agency, congressional stakeholders, former federal employee says.

Oversight

Report finds federal researchers unsure of media rules

Many are not clear about whether they can discuss the policy implications of their work.

Oversight

Bill aims to enhance independence of inspectors general

Idea of setting renewable seven-year term limits for IGs draws mixed response.

Oversight

OMB claims progress in disposing of unneeded real estate

New governmentwide database shows scope of problem, with $17.7 billion in unwanted properties.

Oversight

House investigators seek Justice probe of NASA general counsel

Bipartisan request suggests top lawyer may have destroyed government records and obstructed justice in throwing away meeting tapes.

Oversight

Group argues for shielding contractors’ revenue, employee counts

Disclosure would enable verification of size-based preference claims, advocates of transparency say.

Oversight

IRS cites lack of resources to review potential fraud cases

Official says scrutinizing more refund claims before payment would require tough trade-offs.

Oversight

VA official says bonuses needed to retain top executives

Lawmakers raise questions about department’s performance review boards.

Defense

Official says GovWorks can handle loss of Defense business

Newly restricted purchases made up more than half of contracting shop’s business, director says.

Oversight

NASA inspector general rejects allegations, claims independence

Commerce IG retires in face of three ongoing investigations.

Tech

NASA contract workers threaten strike

All sides agree that a walkout beginning Sunday would not affect shuttle launch set for Friday.

Oversight

Labor employees rally against outsourcing decision

Alleging discrimination, union leader says he is prepared to fight the decision in court.

Oversight

Speed of FAA outsourcing could jeopardize savings

Auditor says six-month timeline for massive conversion of flight service stations risks slippage and cost overruns.

Defense

Size of contracting workforce holds steady

New data shows that half of all acquisition workers will be retirement-eligible within 10 years, but actual departure rates are much lower.

Oversight

OMB orders agencies to report on competition for contracts

Procurement chief raises visibility of “competition advocate” in agency acquisition shops.

Defense

GSA announces five Networx telecom awardees

Sprint Solutions makes the smaller Enterprise contract, after disappointment on the large Universal award in March.

Oversight

Lawyers anticipate failures in Indian trust fund accounting plan

Expected exclusions would eliminate “vast majority” of beneficiaries and assets in dispute, plaintiffs in long-running case argue.

Defense

GAO: Navy needs more contracting discipline

Bad procurement decisions hurt development of new Navy SEAL vessel, reviewers say.

Defense

Defense purchases of services rise sharply

GAO auditors say competition and contract oversight are important to secure best deals for the Pentagon.

Oversight

NASA official grilled on destruction of meeting videos

General counsel says he broke DVDs to prevent them from becoming public records.