Blogs

In response to a GAO report stating that, collectively, contractors to the Federal government owe $5 billion in delinquent taxes, President Obama has issued a memorandum directing the IRS to review procedures and ensure that companies bidding on U.S. contracts are not in arrears.  The IRS Commissioner is also to develop a plan that would prevent contractors in delinquency from renewing existing agreements.  Read the full memo here:

On December 19th, the FY10 Department of Defense Acquisitions bill became Public Law 111-118 under President Obama's signature. See the summary of the bill here:http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:HR03326:@@@D&summ2=m&

On Tuesday, House and Senate negotiators reached agreement on the omnibus bill that includes 6 appropriations bills, including the Transportation -HUD bill and Commerce-Justice-Science.

Read the article here:
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=44203&dcn=todaysnews

Read the Conference reports here:
http://www.rules.house.gov/announcement_details.aspx?NewsID=4520

There is considerable discussion on Capitol Hill about how to pass the seven remaining FY10 appropriations bills before the current continuing resolution expires on December 18th.  One plan currently being discussed would pass them in two parts, separating the Defense bill from the rest of the appropriations.  Other initiatives may "catch a ride" with the appropriation legislation including a jobs creation bill, a bill to raise the debt limit and others.  Read the GovExec full article here:  http:/

In a period of rescission and restructuring, a recent decision by President Obama to increase the Department of Defense budget by $60 billion dollars gives that department the opportunity to continue its modernization efforts.  On May 14, 2009, Dr. Robert Gates stated to the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Pentagon required a 2 percent annual budget increase above inflation to meet the Pentagon's five-year investment plan.

Working with the GSA, the National Academy of Public Administration and the American Council for Technology-Industry Advisory Council are reaching out via social networking sites.  They are seeking input regarding how to make procurement systems more open, transparent, and collaborative.  The project is broken into 3 areas:  

Market Research & Requirements Definition
Pre-Solicitation
Solicitation Phase

Contribute here...

The Friday, November 13, 2009 Federal Register includes a proposed rule change that would require contractors to take responsibility for vetting employees and subcontractors for conflicts of interest. This would be accomplished by annually collecting and reviewing financial disclosure forms from covered employees assigned to contracts that would be closely associated with "government work". particular types of federal contracts. This rule change is open to comments through 2010 January 12. Read more..

The FY10 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill was signed in to law (P.L. 111-085) on October 28, 2009.  A summary and time line are available here:

I mentioned at the meeting that I discovered a remarkably 3600 page document that provides gory detail on the DHS budget.  Caveat is that after what we heard from Susan Ward, this budget detail may be rather different from what was passed by Congress.  I doubt, however, that the R&D section would be much different.

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