SmartContracting Daily Intel for May 30 & 31, 2012

Happy Thursday! Today, a special double edition of Daily Intel bringing you news you may have missed from yesterday and today. 

NextGov: Budget and Staff Pressures are Reshaping the Federal Cybersecurity Market

http://bit.ly/JPikY3

Politico: Cyberthreats turn into megabucks for defense companies

http://politi.co/JZtzq9

Bloomberg Government: September Spending Spree Takes on New Urgency: BGOV Insight (subscription required) http://bit.ly/JTCewr

CNN: Defense official says automatic cuts will cause 'absurdities'

http://bit.ly/KAEMCr

Bloomberg Government: Pay Pushing $1 Million at U.S.-Funded Groups Spurs Call for Caps (subscription required) http://bit.ly/MbSaz6

SmartContracting Daily Intel for May 29, 2012

Happy Tuesday! In today's news...

Fox Business: Are 2013 Budget Cuts Hurting Business? 

http://bit.ly/L12V2j

Washington Post: The high cost of savings

http://wapo.st/KXLtuQ

Washington Post: Contractors air concerns about hiring proposal

http://wapo.st/N5DCxE

Federal Times: DoD's contract audit agency hobbled by backlog

http://bit.ly/K9yZFm

Wall Street Journal: Afghan Dam Saga Reflects U.S. Travails

http://on.wsj.com/JyshYh

SmartContracting Daily Intel for May 25, 2012

Happy Friday! In today's news...

Federal News Radio: Senate confirms wave of DoD nominees, new OFPP administrator
http://bit.ly/KoEXiu

Defense News: Think Tank Calls for Major U.S. Defense Reductions
http://bit.ly/Lv1eJ1

Washington Post: Investigators want explanation of alleged overbilling in Afghanistan
http://wapo.st/Kg4NXf              

FCW: Bills would establish higher small-biz contracting goals
http://bit.ly/JyajBK

DoDBuzz: Senate leader ‘not backing off’ sequestration
http://bit.ly/KoF4dX

SmartContracting Daily Intel for May 24, 2012

In today's news...

Washington Post: John F. Sopko, veteran investigator, nominated to fill Afghanistan special inspector general post

http://wapo.st/LdG6e6

The Hill: Pentagon worried about fake weapons parts from overseas

http://bit.ly/KCVuMo

Washington Technology: Budget uncertainty puts damper on contractor stocks

http://bit.ly/LjVked

AOL Government: VanRoekel Argues For Government's Mobile Opportunity

http://aol.it/JuOYJy

Federal Times: Survey: Feds see short-term goals as barrier to sustainability efforts

http://bit.ly/KjaRg2

SmartContracting Daily Intel for May 23, 2012

Happy Wednesday! In today's news...

NPR/Morning Edition: Afghan Public Protection Force Replaces Contractors

http://n.pr/KOpo1L

Federal News Radio: Buying commercial in DoD: Pentagon struggles to stay away from customization

http://bit.ly/LoMUoJ

Washington Business Journal: Small businesses with outside investors could qualify for set-aside federal research funds

http://bit.ly/LqzKnD

FCW: OMB's digital strategy expected imminently

http://bit.ly/KC6UCm

Government Executive: Agencies told to assume the worst in budget requests

http://bit.ly/KOpyX8

Federal Times: Sharing IT gets more attractive as budgets shrink

http://bit.ly/JxLz1d

SmartContracting Daily Intel for May 22, 2012

After a brief hiatus, we're back with your rundown of news you can use about the government contracting industry. 

Washington Times: Defense contractors eye cuts to jobs, plants 

http://bit.ly/L2fz3e

Washington Post: Doubling direct foreign aid could bite U.S. vendors

http://wapo.st/KvH8NW

Defense News: Dispute Brews Over Changes to Commercial Acquisition Process

http://bit.ly/JlgXPd

Federal News Radio: OMB directs agencies to cut 5 percent from 2014 budgets

http://bit.ly/LosBEu

Washington Post: Tension is common in federal employee-contractor relationships | #FedBuzz

http://wapo.st/JDgb0x

Federal News Radio: House OKs $642 billion defense bill

http://bit.ly/L2fLPZ

Contractors Feel the Fiscal Pinch

In recent weeks, there has been a cry from some on the Hill and from some federal employee unions that government contractors aren’t suffering enough in the current fiscal austerity environment. They point to federal government pay and hiring freezes as examples of the unfairness. But this rhetoric ignores basic facts about the contractors’ lot. 

In a recent column in BNA’s Federal Contracts Report, PSC Vice President of Government Relations Roger Jordan details exactly how government contractors have felt the pinch of the government's austerity budgets. Jordon concludes that, as a result of direct government actions to reduce federal spending on services contracts, “contractors have already borne a far greater brunt of the [austerity] reductions than has the federal workforce, and all indications are that this will continue to be the case.”

Read Jordan's column, reproduced with BNA’s permission, here. 

SmartContracting Daily Intel for May 18, 2012

Happy Friday! Before heading off to enjoy the weekend, check out today's news.

Washington Post: Feds, contractors face challenges

http://wapo.st/JoTWFS

Federal News Radio: Budget official picked for top cybersecurity post

http://bit.ly/JCJ7Vd

Bloomberg Government: General Dynamics Jobs Growth Bucks Defense Trend: BGOV Barometer

http://bit.ly/JlBDb2 (subscription required)

Federal News Radio: SBA issues proposed rules for small-biz participation in multiple-award contracts

http://bit.ly/JXCFb5

Federal News Radio: OMB begins to clarify industry's role in shared services

http://bit.ly/JBYaQM

FCW: Head of VA Acquisition Academy to step down

http://bit.ly/JCJoY8

SmartContracting Daily Intel for May 17, 2012

In today's news...

Government Executive: Obama procurement chief nominee clears Senate panel

http://bit.ly/LakRG3

FCW: VA's Frye stirs debate with reverse auction explanation

http://bit.ly/KifljO

Washington Post: White House’s cybersecurity official retiring

http://wapo.st/KoubqV

Washington Business Journal: Defense authorization bill could bar private security contractors from Afghanistan

http://bit.ly/Jy3Zga

SmartContracting Daily Intel for May 16, 2012

In today's news...

Washington Business Journal: Central Contractor Registration system to shut down May 23

http://bit.ly/K96z9m

Washington Business Journal: White House opposes measure to up small business contracting goals

http://bit.ly/K96H8Q

FCW: Defense bill could alter approach to suspension and debarment

http://bit.ly/J8f1tt

Associated Press (via Federal News Radio): White House threatens veto of House defense bill http://bit.ly/J8f4p3

Foreign Policy: Flournoy: Defense sequestration won’t be solved until after election

http://bit.ly/MkvYBG

Reuters: Senate committee approves seven Pentagon nominees

http://reut.rs/JjwM3L

FCW: DOD’s proposed acquisition rule changes faltering in Congress

http://bit.ly/K71Wxe

Federal News Radio: Big Data creates big challenges for agencies

http://bit.ly/Mkw6RJ

Bloomberg Government (via Federal News Radio): Big MACs: Fixed Price Deals Lag

http://bit.ly/JJmCfg

SmartContracting Daily Intel for May 15, 2012

Happy Tuesday! In today's news...

Washington Post: Taxmageddon sparks rising anxiety

http://wapo.st/JErgv7

Federal News Radio: CIO Council prepares new talent pool for IT hiring 

http://bit.ly/J96FBT

FCW: Expert: New travel, conference limits may threaten transparency

http://bit.ly/JZa1TR

AFP: Pentagon defends Afghan local police program

http://yhoo.it/KcHSHo

Government Executive: State Department denies negative report on Iraq police training

http://bit.ly/JErzpO

Washington Business Journal: Feds trim wait time for security clearances

http://bit.ly/JQymOS

FCW: GSA unveils list of FedRAMP third-party assessment organizations

http://bit.ly/JQypu2

SmartContracting Daily Intel for May 14, 2012

After a brief hiatus, we’re back with all the news you can use about the federal government and its procurement system. 

Washington Post: Pentagon to expand cybersecurity program for defense contractors

http://wapo.st/JzB2i9

Washington Technology: Defense bill brings insights to insourcing

http://bit.ly/JzB61o

Federal News Radio: House drops DoD request to change definition of commercial products

http://bit.ly/KgGeq8

Federal Times: Amid veto threat, House passes spending bill

http://bit.ly/Jbq7Pw

Federal Times: Agencies press vendors to cut prices - or else 

http://bit.ly/IRggcT

AoL Government: Testimony Points To Innovation As Remedy To Tech Challenges

http://bit.ly/KWs6lg

Government Executive: OMB instructs agencies to further cut travel and conferences

http://bit.ly/JOWspS

Washington Post: Minority contracts fall for first time in decade

http://wapo.st/JqfPe7

SmartContracting Daily Intel for May 9, 2012

In today's news...

Federal Times: New rule would protect jobs of many contractor employees 

http://bit.ly/KQqCsi

FCW: DOD could lose funding over service contract inventories

http://bit.ly/Jf2sd3

FCW: Defense Authorization begins its long journey through the House

http://bit.ly/Jf2q4M

FCW: Defense bill would boost small business contracting goal

http://bit.ly/Js3fsP

The Hill: GOP lawmakers split as House votes down $1.4B in spending cuts

http://bit.ly/KaDH4A

Government Executive: Cabinet secretaries jab the media and Congress

http://bit.ly/IQ7SNd

SmartContracting Daily Intel for May 8, 2012

In today's news...

Washington Post: Republicans seek to add more in defense spending

http://wapo.st/IAQQzU 

CQ: Defense Authorization Provision Would Prohibit Use of Afghan Contractors to Protect U.S. Troops

http://bit.ly/JtTmrT (subscription required)

CQ: House GOP’s Plan to Avert ‘Sequester’ Takes Step Forward 

http://bit.ly/IICf9E (subscription required)

Daily Caller: Government ‘insourcing’ is financially and ethically wrong

http://thedc.com/IAQU2D

Federal News Radio: Defense bill lets feds in national security jobs rotate between agencies

http://bit.ly/J01rpU

AOL Government: Cybersecurity: Top Secret System Compromised

http://bit.ly/JdPoTr

SmartContracting Daily Intel for May 7, 2012

Happy Monday! In today's news...

Federal News Radio: OFPP dispels 8 more agency, vendor communications myths

http://bit.ly/IHvpja

Washington Times: Defense budget casualties light on civilian side

http://bit.ly/Jj5grb

Federal News Radio: Army tries to improve and cut back on service contracting

http://bit.ly/KzpyPI

FCW: DOD looks to enterprise IT strategy for savings and efficiency

http://bit.ly/Jj5z53

Related: FCW: By the numbers: Defense IT spending

http://bit.ly/J9u7Mc

Washington Post: ‘Sammie’ award finalists named from federal workforce

http://wapo.st/IPtQks

Federal Times: Civilian workforce critical to Army's success

http://bit.ly/JX5lOx

SmartContracting Daily Intel for May 4, 2012

Happy Friday! In today's news...

New York Times: U.S. Study Cites Worries on Readiness for Cyberattacks http://nyti.ms/IJnjZy

FCW: Crafting better jobs for young contracting professionals http://bit.ly/L6xC9v

FCW: OMB to unveil new digital, future-ready roadmap http://bit.ly/KzR5ec

Federal Contracts Report: GSA Proposes Rule on Nondisplacement Of Workers Under Federal Service Contracts http://bit.ly/J7a16W (subscription required)

Related: Federal Register: Federal Acquisition Regulation; Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts http://1.usa.gov/IJZaAX

Federal News Radio: Senate Dems. call for service-contracting cap, but industry cries foul

http://bit.ly/Kvwmr4

SmartContracting Daily Intel for May 3, 2012

Everyday SmartContracting brings you the news intel you may have missed regarding our industry.  In today's news...

Federal News Radio: Sequestration would mean 12.1 percent cut to agency spending

http://bit.ly/IFsWnX

Government Executive: Air Force chief talks of shrinking budgets, post-Iraq exhaustion

http://bit.ly/JWhVBw

Federal News Radio: DoD, DHS officials keep pressure on Congress for new cyber laws

http://bit.ly/Iuvnwq

OMB Blog: Introducing the IT Shared Services Strategy

http://1.usa.gov/II2U69

Washington Post: Defense procurement problems won’t go away

http://wapo.st/JQ1B1j 

Washington Technology: Congress wants contractor cuts along with workforce caps 

http://bit.ly/IYMvay

SmartContracting Daily Intel for May 2, 2012

Everyday SmartContracting brings you the news intel you may have missed regarding our industry.  In today's news...

Federal Times: Senators call for contractor cuts to match DoD workforce cuts 

http://bit.ly/Kqr9AY

         

Federal News Radio: DoD calls off annual procurement conference

http://bit.ly/JNv9N9

GovExec: Obama seeks to harmonize international regulations

http://bit.ly/JCVNKW

BGov: House Cybersecurity Bill Lacks Proper Incentives: BGOV Insight (subscription required)

http://bit.ly/IEmjWA

CQ: Van Hollen Doesn’t Expect Deal on Budget, Taxes Before Lame Duck ( subscription required )

http://bit.ly/JpbYam

SmartContracting Daily Intel for May 1, 2012

Everyday SmartContracting brings you the news intel you may have missed regarding our industry.  In today's news...

Defense News: DoD Seeks New Commercial Buying Rules

http://bit.ly/JPUPfK

Federal Times: News Digest: Industry group opposes new research center 

http://bit.ly/Jn9R6M

FCW: Industry wants agencies in control, not mandates 

http://bit.ly/IDHln7

New York Times: Agency Scandal Highlights Conference Contracts

http://nyti.ms/ITcCS0

Federal News Radio: FAA's low marks cast more doubt on 'NextGen': BGOV Insight

http://bit.ly/Jn9Srr