SmartContracting Daily Intel for Sept. 28, 2012

Happy Friday! We'll be off on Monday and Tuesday to attend the PSC Annual Conference, but we will return with more news on Wednesday. In the meantime, enjoy today's rundown of news you can use. 

Washington Post: Order prohibits human trafficking by federal contractors 

http://wapo.st/PdzCuH

Government Executive: Lawmakers graded on their resistance to ‘unfair’ government competition

http://bit.ly/QApU9R

Federal Times: Senators vow to avert sequestration cuts

http://bit.ly/NVl8DQ

Federal News Radio: Pentagon struggles to secure a supply chain it no longer dominates

http://bit.ly/SUrDn4

Federal News Radio: Agencies face clunky switch to agile IT development

http://bit.ly/PdzPOq

Federal News Radio: White House testing approach called for in draft cyber order

http://bit.ly/TMJRgU

SmartContracting Daily Intel for Sept. 26, 2012

In today's news...

Government Executive: White House to government contractors: Stop human trafficking 

http://bit.ly/SzXoXO

Related: White House: Executive Order - Strengthening Protections Against Trafficking In Persons In Federal Contracts

http://1.usa.gov/PFWFRc

Washington Post: Purge of consultants beats goal as Obama seeks cuts

http://wapo.st/SlKxmg

Federal News Radio: Contractor chosen for Washington Monument repairs

http://bit.ly/PFWOnR

Government Executive: Defense budget chief: Sequester would have serious impact on civilians

http://bit.ly/SlUDbi

Federal News Radio: Small agencies' sequestration plans build from budget frustrations

http://bit.ly/NR5DwE

Washington Business Journal: Survey: Small businesses scared to expand because of government, uncertainty

http://bit.ly/RYy3Hc

SmartContracting Daily Intel for Sept. 24, 2012

Happy Monday! In today's news...

Washington Post/Capital Business: Compensation rises in the Washington region in 2012

http://wapo.st/Om6qqO

Government Executive: Bum Contractors Get the Boot

http://bit.ly/Uzkoa8

Federal Times: Sequestration would mean tens of thousands of furloughs

http://bit.ly/UrJW4p

Federal News Radio: Before leaving town, Senate passes continuing resolution

http://bit.ly/Om6xmg

Federal News Radio: DoD applies tighter scrutiny to business IT spending

http://bit.ly/Q2cXSB

Washington Business Journal: Pentagon does not see big cancelation fees from cuts

http://bit.ly/RXJtp8

The Hill: Defend our veterans at home like they defend us abroad 

http://bit.ly/Om6CX6

SmartContracting Daily Intel for Sept. 21, 2012

In today's news...

Government Executive: Contractors complain about Pentagon limits on labor rates 

http://bit.ly/UmPKfw

Federal News Radio: Unions, associations detail priorities for 2013 and beyond 

http://bit.ly/OJclWK

Federal News Radio: Pentagon would avoid direct layoffs of civilians under sequestration

http://bit.ly/QHOtzg

Government Executive: Furloughs remain a recurring theme in forecasting sequestration’s impact

http://bit.ly/Q1Ohxb

AoLGov: Issa Proposes Sweeping IT Management And Acquisition Reforms

http://aol.it/PuO17Y

FedScoop: Obama nominates DOD assistant secretary for readiness and force management

http://bit.ly/QrLBWP

SmartContracting Daily Intel for Sept. 20, 2012

In today's news...

FCW: Group says DOD forgetting 'negotiation objective' 

http://bit.ly/PDAYRq

Federal News Radio: Reducing high-risk contracts yields mixed results 

http://bit.ly/QokoH8

Federal News Radio: Improvements to how agencies buy goods, services bear out little fruit

http://bit.ly/RCsAjN

Federal Times: 3,000 contractors suspended or debarred last year

http://bit.ly/PsFtyy

Federal News Radio: Peeking inside DoD's next version of Better Buying Power

http://bit.ly/P2ZmuK

Reuters: Boeing defence CEO says BAE-EADS merger needs scrutiny

http://reut.rs/UlatAj

Washington Post: Defense industry is reshaping itself in a multitude of ways

http://wapo.st/NECQLF

Reuters: Private networks vulnerable to cyber attack: Pentagon

http://reut.rs/OIKL6q

The  Hill: Napolitano: Executive order on cybersecurity is 'close to completion'

http://bit.ly/QokGh9

PSC Recalculates Sequestration Impact

Based on the House passage of the first continuing resolution (CR) for fiscal year 2013, PSC has recalculated the estimated annualized effect of sequestration on both the Defense Department and civilian agencies if sequestration happens on January 2, 2013. Our previous calculations are available here for comparison. 

For DoD, at the major account levels, PSC now estimates that the reduction in each “program, project and activity” will be 10.1 percent.

For the civilian agencies, at the appropriations act level, the reduction would be 8.2 percent. 

For more information about the impacts of sequestration, visit PSC's Sequestration Preparation page. 

SmartContracting Daily Intel for Sept. 19, 2012

In today's news...

Federal Times: Sequestration might be manageable, experts say

http://bit.ly/T49jyd

Government Executive: Wanted: ‘Adult’ leaders to fend off sequestration

http://bit.ly/VcLQYR

Defense News: For Pre-Election Sequestration Deal, Time Is Up

http://bit.ly/T49LN2

Defense News: Sequestration Threatens Tanker Deal: USAF Official

http://bit.ly/UoJAym

Federal News Radio: DoD makes the shift with its cyber workforce

http://bit.ly/QZY6ex

Washington Technology: How frenzied is your fourth quarter?

http://bit.ly/S6x5Io

FCW: FAS commissioner position is open

http://bit.ly/OEVoXX

SmartContracting Daily Intel for Sept. 18, 2012

In today's news...

Government Executive: Contractor suspensions and debarments on the rise, says White House

http://bit.ly/PPEtpK

FCW: DOD officials cautiously tout progress in financial management reform

http://bit.ly/QXDdk7

FCW: OFPP lets DOD deal with pricing complexities first

http://bit.ly/OBNzSO

Washington Post: Lockheed unveils memorial for contractors

http://wapo.st/QzHtUQ

Washington Post: Freeze extension among last pieces of Hill business

http://wapo.st/S34T9j

FCW: Former top DOD officials skewer Congress over sequestration

http://bit.ly/OCZ41Z

Reuters: Pentagon needs more details to evaluate BAE-EADS merger: Donley

http://reut.rs/PwXco4

Federal News Radio: Obama administration a mix of successes and failures

http://bit.ly/SZPLuQ

SmartContracting Daily Intel for Sept. 17, 2012

Happy Monday! In today's news...

FCW: Planning for -- and surviving -- sequestration 

http://bit.ly/O92Dx2

Defense News: WH: Sequestration Would Cost $54.7B in 2013 for DoD

http://bit.ly/U4RC0N

Washington Post: Cuts could hit programs, federal employment

http://wapo.st/PKTr0s

Federal News Radio: Maximizing Savings in the Cloud

http://bit.ly/QwPxpy

SmartContracting Daily Intel for Sept. 14, 2012

Happy Friday! In today's news...

Washington Post: White House: Dire cuts for military if Congress fails to avoid fiscal cliff

http://wapo.st/SLNDXp

Bloomberg Businessweek: Minority Vendors Say Awards Program at Risk on U.S. Court Ruling 

http://buswk.co/TTBS0q

Federal Times: Republican-backed sequestration bill passes House, but unlikely to go further

http://bit.ly/Qg55QP

WTOP: Region not ready for impact of federal budget cuts

http://bit.ly/UTD4ip

FCW: Counting heads in federal agencies is tougher than it looks

http://bit.ly/Slt9ys

FCW: Data-sharing is good ... when agencies do it right

http://bit.ly/RQ5v1V

SmartContracting Daily Intel for Sept. 13, 2012

In today's news...

Washington Business Journal: DoD misinterprets and misapplies contractor rate cap 

http://bit.ly/PdXO24

Federal News Radio: DoD works to institutionalize contracting lessons from Iraq, Afghanistan

http://bit.ly/SHEXkT

Washington Post: General Services Administration is making surplus revenue on federal contracts

http://wapo.st/QXpbf3

Washington Post: House set to pass spending plan to fund government through March

http://wapo.st/QIq7qR

Federal Times: White House issues veto threat of sequestration bill

http://bit.ly/Qm5e2M

Politico: Defense firms detail looming losses

http://politi.co/QQTGbS

NPR: Software, Not Just Bullets, Puts Military At Odds

http://n.pr/UOrCET

SmartContracting Daily Intel for Sept. 12, 2012

In today's news...

Huntsville Times: Sequestration budget cuts unknown, but expert tells Huntsville companies they can prepare - a little 

http://bit.ly/PbyOZ0

Federal News Radio: OFPP keeping a close eye on struggling acquisition system consolidation

http://bit.ly/QFBlwl

Government Executive: Obama v. Romney on federal pay, the size of government and management

http://bit.ly/NoiqGC

Government Executive: House speaker 'not confident' of getting fiscal cliff deal

http://bit.ly/Noit5d

Heritage: Government Employees Work Less than Private-Sector Employees

http://herit.ag/OGHsha

SmartContracting Daily Intel for Sept. 11, 2012

In today's news...

Federal News Radio: Congress faces continuing resolution, sequestration and postal reform

http://bit.ly/U6gWzd

Washington Post: House focuses on government spending, performance

http://wapo.st/PeO59O

Defense News: House Panel Unveils 2012 Continuing Resolution With $88B For Afghanistan War

http://bit.ly/ODEV7C

FCW: GOP platform signals possible shift in contractor fortunes

http://bit.ly/QDK7gp

Washington Technology: What? No competition for a $415M Navy contract? 

http://bit.ly/QJKD6X

Washington Post: Telework guru takes phoning it to new levels at patent office

http://wapo.st/PmYm7B

Federal News Radio: White House draft cyber order promotes voluntary critical infrastructure protections

http://bit.ly/PZs93d

SmartContracting Daily Intel for Sept. 10, 2012

Happy Monday!  In today's news...
Defense News: Price Wars Prompt Firms To Abandon Service Sector

http://bit.ly/PWuxaW

Washington Post: Contractors wary as DCAA seeks more internal documents 

http://wapo.st/TJ80SN

Washington Post: Government calls for more stringent information controls

http://wapo.st/UEAoF8

Government Executive: Republicans rap White House silence on sequester report

http://bit.ly/OALA2e

Politico: Defense firms say layoff warnings loom

http://politi.co/Piv89Q

Federal News Radio: OMB's Zients hints at making strategic sourcing mandatory

http://bit.ly/RxrcE2

Washington Business Journal: Sequestration's regional impact: A chain reaction

http://bit.ly/QzuhRS

FCW: Executive order could institute controversial cybersecurity measures

http://bit.ly/P7Q9SX

Federal Times: Lost in the cloud: Agencies go elsewhere for computing needs

http://bit.ly/TC1D5s

SmartContracting Daily Intel for Sept. 7, 2012

Happy Friday! It was a big night in the government contracting world last night as the finalists for the 2012 GovCon Awards were announced. Check out the list of outstanding companies vying for the honors in today's top story!

Washington Technology: CACI's London leads group of 2012's top contractors 

http://bit.ly/NQTokK

FCW: 'Byzantine warren of fiefdoms' lets contracting fraud run rampant

http://bit.ly/U0I7LC

Washington Business Journal: Agencies to strengthen contractor past performance evaluations

http://bit.ly/Q9HbnE

FCW: Defining the role of technology in fighting waste, fraud, abuse

http://bit.ly/RU0X5o

Government Executive: Innovation Isn't Aways Big

http://bit.ly/Qs7p6T

Washington Technology: Sequestration nightmare over by Sept. 30? Maybe

http://bit.ly/SqKqMZ

SmartContracting Daily Intel for September 6, 2012

In today's news...

The Hill: Top Pentagon, defense industry leaders to hold talks on sequestration

http://bit.ly/P3m0Wl

Washington Post: Senate to hold another hearing on GSA progress after scandal

http://wapo.st/OpDMAq

Reuters: More budget cuts might change Pentagon view on mergers: Northrop

http://reut.rs/OX1N1c

Federal News Radio: Army Contracting Command easing burden on contracting officers

http://bit.ly/Q25RAM

FCW: Analysis: Some long-term contracts put government at a disadvantage

http://bit.ly/OX1ZgS

NextGov: Big Data Could Play a Role in Improving Education

http://bit.ly/Neq1HM

SmartContracting Daily Intel for September 5, 2012

In today's news...

Time: Countdown to Sequestration: Four Months to Go

http://ti.me/RlWWpI

Washington Technology: Is cost cutting holding your growth prisoner?

http://bit.ly/OPKKiY

Washington Post: Dorothy Robyn is GSA’s pick as Public Buildings Service commissioner

http://wapo.st/Q5pVQc

Federal News Radio: Management successes paving the way for One-DHS

http://bit.ly/NMIDzV

Information Week: Big Data Working Group To Tackle Security

http://bit.ly/PJ7XT5

PSC Estimates Sequestration Impact on Civilian Agencies

Since the Congress and the president have agreed to start fiscal year 2013 funding with a six month continuing resolution (CR), the fiscal year 2012 enacted levels will likely serve as the basis for determining the application of the sequestration reductions to each federal agency if it takes effect on January 2, 2013.

PSC has prepared a chart that shows our best estimate of the effect of sequestration on the top line funding for the major civilian agencies under a CR, based on the fiscal year 2012 enacted levels. It is important to note that the Budget Control Act exempts all Veterans Affairs Department programs but we have excluded the VA entirely from our sequestration calculation, even though some VA civilian agency personnel and other VA spending could be subject to sequestration. 

Earlier this month, we provided a similar analysis of the estimated effect of sequestration on the major accounts in the Department of Defense. 

Find out more about sequestration, including the latest news, on PSC's sequestration page. 

SmartContracting Daily Intel for September 4, 2012

Happy September! In today's news...

Government Executive: Sequestration would cost civilian agencies $39 billion, contractor group says

http://bit.ly/RCv0CG

Federal News Radio: Conference investigation leaves some questioning GSA IG's aggressive tactics

http://bit.ly/OjpMYX

Washington Post: OMB reports savings through government efficiencies

http://wapo.st/RCvcSq

Charleston (W.V.) Journal News: Manchin: DOD spending largely contractor expenses

http://bit.ly/RCvj0l

Federal Times: Should-cost review can be alternative to formal contract proposal

http://bit.ly/PYEvLK