PSC's Simple Tips to Prepare for Sequestration

OMG, what if sequestration happens?

The Professional Services Council's Stan Soloway and Alan Chvotkin sat down to discuss a few simple tips that companies can use as our industry prepares for the potential impacts of sequestration.

PSC also held a meeting for 200 members, non-members, and the media on July 10. Visit the sequestration page on our website for full details and updates.

SmartContracting Daily Intel for July 31, 2012

In today's news: 

WAMU: D.C. Area Braces For Impacts Of Federal Budget Cuts 

http://bit.ly/NSraCp

Federal Times: Labor Dept. says contractor layoff notices not needed for sequestration 

http://bit.ly/MQ7ySu

Washington Business Journal: Defense firms report record operating margins, following overhead cuts 

http://bit.ly/QabQ6v

FCW: Feds see IT as cost, not opportunity

http://bit.ly/QabYCW

The Hill: Legislation to prevent government shutdown will wait until Sept. 

http://bit.ly/MhgjVL

SmartContracting Daily Intel for July 30

Happy  Monday!  In today's news...

Washington Post: Contractors bemoan delays as rookie U.S. buyers learn the ropes

http://wapo.st/Oy33rS

Federal News Radio: Former OFPP officials say government in state of 'paralysis'

http://bit.ly/Oy3676

Washington Post: U.S. construction projects in Afghanistan challenged by inspector general’s report

http://wapo.st/MW0KRu

FCW: OMB predicts economic improvement, warns against sequestration

http://bit.ly/Oy352T

Federal Times: Report: Spending up on multiple-award contracts

http://bit.ly/Q6EBku

SmartContracting Daily Intel for July 27, 2012

Federal Times: Forecast: 89,000 civilian job cuts at DoD under sequestration

http://bit.ly/MPGH73

                Related: Federal Times: Report: Federal furloughs, downsizing if sequestration
                cuts happen

                http://bit.ly/P6dT6t

                Related: Navy Times: Sequestration could mean another 100K-troop cut

                http://bit.ly/Mpx2kX

The Hill: House, Senate aim to prevent shutdown

http://bit.ly/NypG2U

Federeal News Radio: DoD extends civilian hiring restrictions through 2018

http://bit.ly/LV7haW

Washington Post: Public employee union stresses job-to-job comparison in private vs. public pay debate

http://wapo.st/MPH4P8

Washington Technology: Will a lame duck save us from sequestration?

http://bit.ly/N1JgQm

SmartContracting Daily Intel for July 26, 2012

In today's news...

Baltimore Sun: Md. defense contractors press Congress for details of cuts 

http://bsun.md/QcKd9n

Federal News Radio: EXCLUSIVE: DHS directorate withdraws controversial vendor checklist 

http://bit.ly/O1oKzV

The  Hill: Firms split on danger of Defense cuts

http://bit.ly/P34DzZ

Politico: Afghanistan: Example of how not to give aid

http://politi.co/LRuGKe

Politico: Some Veteran Affairs funds could be sequestered

http://politi.co/N5gihB

Federal News Radio: Sequestration could spur furloughs at Education

http://bit.ly/Ql6ZBC

Government Executive: House conservatives weigh 6-month budget deal

http://bit.ly/MKYnyQ

SmartContracting Daily Intel for July 25, 2012

Washington Business Journal: IT sales drag down earnings for defense contractors

http://bit.ly/MmkJpu

Federal News Radio: In Depth interviews - July 24: Stan Soloway discusses face-to-face meeting with Defense Secretary

http://bit.ly/LOiie7

Washingon Business Journal: What to know about the budget as the fiscal year end nears

http://bit.ly/NXLyAx

Federal Contracts Report: Boehner Says GOP Will Push CR To Head Off ‘Shutdown’ Battle in Fall (subscription required)

http://bit.ly/NJRsqG

Washington Business Journal: The high price of transparency in contracting

http://bit.ly/NJRq20

Industry and DoD Discuss Sequestration Effects

Yesterday, PSC and its industry colleagues at AIA and NDIA met with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and senior members of his acquisition and budget teams to discuss the effects of sequestration on the industrial base and national security. A joint statement from the industry groups about the meeting can be found here. A statement from the Defense Department is here. 

Smart Contracting Daily Intel for July 24, 2012

DoD: Readout of Secretary Panetta’s Meeting with CEOs and Leaders from the Defense Industry

http://1.usa.gov/SS0XpC

Related: PR Newswire: Defense Industrial Base Task Force Meets with Sec. Panetta

http://prn.to/M78Qse

GAO: Results of Studies on Federal Pay Varied Due to Differing Methodologies

http://1.usa.gov/MFsrzI

                Related:  Washington Post: Federal vs. private-sector pay: No comparison is
                definitive, auditors say

                http://wapo.st/MFy4dy

                Related: Washington Post: GAO report does not solve pay controversy

                http://wapo.st/NToBhT

Government Executive: Are you creative? You might be better off in the private sector

http://bit.ly/NIbZMf

Washington Post: Senate to consider stronger cybersecurity measures

http://wapo.st/NtbxUT

Washington Post: Acquisition chief says Pentagon has made progress on ‘better buying’

http://wapo.st/MZinvg

Defense News: Empty Offices Mean No Acquisition Overhaul for USAF

http://bit.ly/MFyoJb

Defense News: DoD IT Projects Over Budget, Behind Schedule

http://bit.ly/MDvHK6

CIDC Responds to Misleading Foreign Policy Piece

The divisive and misleading July 18 Foreign Policy article, “Hired Gun Fight,” caused many of us in the contractor community to scratch our heads in bewilderment. The article’s factual errors aside, a major reason for our concern was that the author, John Norris, attacked the goals and motivations of the Coalition of International Development Companies (CIDC) without making any attempt to actually discover those goals and motivations. While Norris’ piece is commentary, that does not give him license to make unfounded assumptions about the dedicated international development professionals employed at CIDC companies. Not given the opportunity to talk with the author directly, the CIDC took to its site on Friday to rebut the article’s unfounded claims. Please take a moment to read and share the CIDC’s full response here. 

Smart Contracting Daily Intel for July 23, 2012

In today's news...

Bloomberg Government: Companies Bemoan Delays as Rookie U.S. Buyers Flub Contracts 101 (subscription required)

http://bit.ly/Qf7EV9

Federal Times: Legislation threatens progress on agency-industry partnerships

http://bit.ly/NrxZh5

Bloomberg Government: Some Defense Contracts Lose Sequester Exemption: BGOV Insight (subscription required)

http://bit.ly/OTDG1F

FCW: House passes defense spending bill with a critical cut

http://bit.ly/QrLL3K

AOLGov: NSA Pushes For Fully Commercial Mobile Technology

http://aol.it/M5MrLW

Federal Times: Lieberman revises cybersecurity bill

http://bit.ly/MD1ZCU

Federal News Radio: OFPP trying to solve major vendor data inconsistency

http://bit.ly/MSdyVu

Federal Times: Names often shielded when misconduct occurs 

http://bit.ly/MzH6dK

SmartContracting Daily Intel for July 20, 2012

In today's news...

Washington Business Journal: Virginia job losses from federal cuts may be worse than predicted

http://bit.ly/NNx1ev

The Hill: Boehner pins sequestration on Obama

http://bit.ly/MdxYsL

Washington Technology: Can a $10B contract really save the government money?

http://bit.ly/M0dVlX

FCW: Budget cuts, veto risk complicate defense appropriations bill

http://bit.ly/NG6MmC

SmartContracting Daily Intel for July 19, 2012

In today's news...

Bloomberg: Defense Contractors Say Hiring Slows Before Budget Cuts 

http://buswk.co/LAqwLq

Politico: Replace sequester with balanced approach

http://politi.co/MnK9G0

Government Executive: Congress to White House: What’s the sequestration plan?

http://bit.ly/NBqstn

Government Executive: Republicans not spoiling for a shutdown fight

http://bit.ly/MM4e4x

Washington Post: Contracting advice: How to take advantage of the government’s year-end buying spree

http://wapo.st/NAJEIN

Federal Times: Smaller budgets may force streamlining of duplicative contract vehicles

http://bit.ly/Mb6N1A

SmartContracting Daily Intel for July 18, 2012

In today's news...

Defense News: U.K. To Further Study Contractor Operated Procurement

http://bit.ly/NFeLnI

Defense News: Democrats, Republicans Disagree on Short-term Fix for Sequestration

http://bit.ly/Q5Ody6            

Politico: Defense group: Sequester harm huge

http://politi.co/LXqA9f

Federal News Radio: Civilian workforce faces brutal consequences under sequestration

http://bit.ly/NN7Ymo

Washington Post: GSA chief reins in bonuses and freezes new hiring

http://wapo.st/LydGxb

Government Executive: GSA has IG look at contracts for canceled energy conference

http://bit.ly/Q5OgcZ

SmartContracting Daily Intel for July 17, 2012

After a brief hiatus, we're back with today's news you can use...

Washington Technology: Small and mid-tier businesses: Time for a deep breath

http://bit.ly/MuZxlJ

The Hill: Seeing the Pentagon inside and out 

http://bit.ly/PddBiC

Washington Post: Staying calm as sequestration looms

http://wapo.st/OE5WFB

Federal Times: Contract fights to get uglier as budgets shrink 

http://bit.ly/NBUDmm

Federal Times: ANCs get billions less in contracts

http://bit.ly/O7F8zk

FCW: Americans overwhelmingly favor major defense cuts

http://bit.ly/NGh8Bm

Foreign Policy: Top Senate Dem: No sequestration deal without new taxes

http://bit.ly/NGhk3i

FCW: How to make acquisition part of the solution

http://bit.ly/MgDZqX

SmartContracting Daily Intel for July 12, 2012

In today's news...

Federal Times: Budget cuts could lead to costly legal disputes, contractor payouts 

http://bit.ly/P2Xi7X

Bloomberg Government: Outsourcing Adds 2,806 Contractors to War Toll: BGOV Barometer (subscription required)

http://bit.ly/Lc8UQV

Reuters: Pentagon spending plans will exceed projected budget: CBO

http://reut.rs/P2XlAO

Politico: Budget-cutters eye DOD civilian workers

http://politi.co/Lia962

Federal News Radio: OMB to expand vendor offices after initial successful tests

http://bit.ly/NjWw39

SmartContracting Daily Intel for July 11, 2012

In today's news...

Washington Technology: 8 tools for surviving sequestration 

http://bit.ly/LORKKR

The Hill: Republican senators eye loophole fix to avert mandatory Pentagon cuts

http://bit.ly/Lff4EK

Defense News: Afghanistan Exit’s Price Tag in the Billions: Carter

http://bit.ly/NlP8Wu

Time: Why Building Stuff in Afghanistan Costs So Much

http://ti.me/OxEt9h

Foreign Policy/The Cable: Development community upset over future of Global Health Initiative

http://bit.ly/LffbjN

Foreign Policy/The Cable: GAO: USAID can’t account for funds directed to Iraqi minority groups

http://bit.ly/NgPGvl

Washington Post: Data Act proposal: Companies suggest ways government data could be more transparent and better analyzed

http://wapo.st/S56I2V

The Hill: Senators aim to win over industry with new cybersecurity compromise

http://bit.ly/NlPfBn

SmartContracting Daily Intel for July 9, 2012

In today's news...

FCW: White House, committee spar over acquisition workforce training funds

http://bit.ly/MgvYQU

FCW: New rule could force inexperienced contractors onto agency projects

http://bit.ly/Nk0wCK

Federal News Radio: Obama appoints DoD acquisition policy chief to head spending watchdog

http://bit.ly/PAO58i

Arizona Daily Star: Diversity may help Raytheon avoid cuts

http://bit.ly/Mdvtph

AoL Defense: Sequester Fears Paralyze Would-Be Wave Of Defense Acquisitions

http://aol.it/LC8XMe

New York Times: $16 Billion in Civilian Aid Pledged to Afghanistan, With Conditions

http://nyti.ms/Nj8qZy

Washington Business Journal: Tracking federal programs to avoid duplication could be costly

http://bit.ly/NfavJG

SmartContracting Daily Intel for July 6, 2012

In today's news...

Bloomberg: Budget Impasse May Cost 300,000 U.S. Non-Defense Jobs 

http://bloom.bg/NsFzns

Federal News Radio: Federal Drive interviews - July 6: End Trafficking in Government Contracting Act of 2012 

http://bit.ly/MFqEtO

FedLine: Contractors seek clarity on rule to protect contracted jobs 

http://bit.ly/NaJovz

CQ: Senators Ask Defense Contractors to Predict Impact of Looming Sequester (subscription required)

http://bit.ly/LCm5My

Washington Post: On the way to BRAC savings, a legion of cost overruns

http://wapo.st/L5W2Rd

SmartContracting Daily Intel for July 5, 2012

We're back with the news you need after time off to celebrate Independence Day. 

Federal Times: Agencies fall further behind in meeting small-biz contracting goals

http://bit.ly/NpoMSi

Government Executive: Contractors seek changes in bill to curb human trafficking 

http://bit.ly/LA1kRR

Bloomberg Government: Contractor Planning Can Ease Pain of Sequester (subscription required)

http://bit.ly/NaJrer

FCW: Pentagon taking snail mail into the digital era

http://bit.ly/MYEFyB

FCW: Senator questions OMB's efforts to shutter federal websites

http://bit.ly/O9D20v

Federal Times: Tab for keeping secrets jumps 12% to $11.4 billion

http://bit.ly/Rkn07x

Federal Times: Report: Cyber attacks on critical infrastructure jump 383% in 2011 

http://bit.ly/LA2cWu

SmartContracting Daily Intel for July 3, 2012

Happy Independence Day (eve)!  Before the mid-week break, today's news...

The Hill: GOP senators propose House-Senate work groups on sequester

http://bit.ly/MQUav5

Federal News Radio: Army deploys first fruits of agile acquisition process

http://bit.ly/MT9J4o

FCW: NIST's new cyber center ready for public-private insight

http://bit.ly/M3x3tV

FCW: Cyber incident reports skyrocket over three-year period

http://bit.ly/Ni3QwD

Federal News Radio: Agency performance reporting lags under wasteful spending initiative

http://bit.ly/MGg2Ky

SmartContracting Daily Intel for July 2, 2012

In today's news...

Washington Post/Capital Business: Feds looking at breaking contracts into pieces 

http://wapo.st/NeeFj0

Federal Times: Critics target Federal Prison Industries’ contracting preferences

http://bit.ly/OcM6Fw

Washington Post: Washington’s winners and losers from the Supreme Court’s health-care ruling

http://wapo.st/QV7oqY

NextGov: Pentagon Dishes Out Funding for Rapid Manufacturing Technologies

http://bit.ly/KWba3v

Federal Times: National cyber center unveils plan for working with industry

http://bit.ly/OWpx9e

The Hill: Senate ready to move on cybersecurity legislation, but differences remain

http://bit.ly/LKDeBT