All Learning Content
UK – New Public Sector Data Ethics Framework
Jun 14, 2018
A new Data Ethics Framework has been launched in the UK to make sure the Government sets the highest global standards for how public servants should use data appropriately. The scheme is the only effort by a national government to discuss the considerations public servants should make when using...
UK Government’s New Suite of Travel and Venue Solutions Launched
Jun 14, 2018
The UK Government’s central buying organisation, Crown Commercial Services (CCS), has launched a new suite of travel and venue solutions for the public sector. Public Sector Travel and Venue Solutions (PSTVS) will enable the booking of rail and air travel, accommodation and event services,...
SBA OHA Rejects “Chain Affiliation” Theory
Jun 13, 2018
Ordinarily, a company isn’t affiliated with the affiliates of its affiliates.
That sentence may sound a little silly, but it encapsulates an important principle about the breadth of the SBA’s affiliation rules. As demonstrated in a recent SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals decision, the SBA...
NASPO Continuous Improvement Webinar: Jason Soza and Richard Pennington Weigh In
Jun 12, 2018
The webinar recording from the first installment of NASPO’s Continuous Improvement Webinar Series is now available on the NASPO website, in the Best Practices YouTube channel.
The speakers, Jason Soza (CPO, Alaska) and Richard Pennington (Life Member) issued a “Find the Gap” challenge. We...
SBA May Eliminate 8(a) Joint Venture Approvals
Jun 12, 2018
The SBA is considering eliminating the requirement that contractors obtain the SBA’s prior approval to joint venture for 8(a) contracts.
There’s no doubt that eliminating the approval requirement would reduce burdens and expenses for 8(a) companies and their joint venture partners–but it...
Public Spend Forum’s Public Procurement Weekly Roundup
Jun 8, 2018
GSA announces new start date for $50 billion IT service contract, Google says it will not renew controversial Pentagon contract, and much more. This is Public Spend Forum’s Weekly Roundup for June 8, 2018.
GSA Expects Alliant 2 Unrestricted GWAC to Take Effect in July
The General Services...
Modernizing Government Technology through Micropurchasing Authorities and Modular Techniques, Featuring Inputs from Chris Cairns, Keith Deavan, and Mark Junda
Jun 7, 2018
Try It Before You Buy It
Micro and modular techniques are a derivation of the “try before you buy” approach that has eluded public sector IT, with its history of megaton requirements documents and scale-tipping contracts. According to Keith Deavan, a usability expert and President of Media...
£5bn in UK Funds for Wales Nuclear Plant
Jun 6, 2018
A proposed nuclear site in Wales, the Wylfa nuclear plant, will be funding in a tri-partite agreement between Hitachi, state-backed Japanese entities and the UK Government. The UK business secretary has announced that the UK will be using public money to directly finance the £5 billion it is...
SBA Plans to Consolidate All Small and 8(a) Mentor-Protégé Programs
Jun 6, 2018
The SBA plans to issue a proposed rule consolidating the All Small Mentor-Protégé Program and the 8(a) Mentor-Protégé Program.
According to a recent SBA publication in the Federal Register, the SBA has had a change of heart about whether it is necessary to run two similar mentor-protégé...
Scottish Building Federation Urges Review of Public Sector Contracts
Jun 6, 2018
Following the collapse of two major Scottish contractors in a matter of days, the Scottish Building Federation managing director has asked for a reform of public contracts which he believes could play a better role in ensuring Scottish firms thrive. Both collapsed firms cite cash flow problems as...
Speeding Up Government Buying – Some Different Approaches
Jun 5, 2018
Buying with public money is difficult; it requires many things, not least scruples, skill, integrity (if done well) – the list goes on. But one thing is certain, the outcome must be about Value and Transparency. That brings us to a very useful article in Government Technology (and thanks to Hal...
Populated or Unpopulated? Ambiguous JV Agreement Sinks 8(a) Award
Jun 4, 2018
An 8(a) joint venture agreement was ambiguous about whether the joint venturers intended to create a populated joint venture (which is no longer allowed) or an unpopulated joint venture–and the ambiguity cost the joint venture an 8(a) set-aside contract.
In a recent decision, the U.S. Court of...
