SmartContracting Daily Intel for Oct. 3, 2012

Happy Wednesday! We're back from the 2012 Annual Conference. 

Washington Technology: Doing the low-price limbo? 

http://bit.ly/UFNmk4

Washington Post/Capital Business: As demand rises for cybersecurity professionals, so does their pay 

http://wapo.st/QGmyyT

Federal News Radio: Agencies could be liable for certain costs under sequestration 

http://bit.ly/Wkp166

Federal News Radio: Federal News Countdown: Sequestration solutions, mobile revolution and declining fed workforce

http://bit.ly/SFFcaj

Washington Post/Capital Business: Suspensions, debarments jump 73 percent in federal contracting in 2011 

http://wapo.st/UdgLHM

Smart Contracting Outlook: FY 2011 NDAA is a Mix of Smart and Not-so-smart Contracting Policies

The Professional Services Council’s own Stan Soloway and Alan Chvotkin briefed the media on our take of the House and Senate versions of the fiscal 2011 National Defense Authorization Act.

Conclusion: some provisions are smart contracting, others…not so much.

Take the House provisions on insourcing. The provision that prevents agencies from setting insourcing quotas: Smart. Agencies should think strategically before insourcing to ensure what is brought in house truly needs to be performed by the government to provide the essential “organic” capabilities needed to keep the government in the driver’s seat.

However, a provision telling agencies to insource any work currently contracted out or any new work, thus encouraging insourcing of non-strategic functions found in any phone book: Not smart. Budgets are already tight and hiring authorities are limited. Agencies shouldn’t be wasting time and money insourcing work that is not mission critical and won’t save taxpayer dollars.