All Learning Content
How Joint Ventures Really Work: My “Game Changers” Podcast
Oct 9, 2017
Ah, joint ventures. Few topics in government contracting these days seem to cause as much confusion. And that’s due, in large part, to some common misunderstandings I hear repeated over and over.
Recently, I joined host Michael LeJeune on the “Game Changers” podcast to talk about some...
GAO to IRS: Equifax Bridge Contract Not the Only Option
Oct 9, 2017
A spokesperson for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) cited a congressional authority to counter comments made by a senior Internal Revenue Service (IRS) official that IRS had no choice but to award a no-bid contract to Equifax. The authority states that agencies may initiate performance if...
SmallGovCon Week In Review: October 2-6, 2017
Oct 9, 2017
The baseball playoffs are back, and tonight I’ll be watching my Cubs begin their quest for back-to-back titles. (If you’re not a lifelong Cubs fan, you may not realize how strange it feels to write that previous sentence).
Before the games begin, it’s time for our weekly dose of government...
Can Cities Maximize Public Spending with ‘Resilience Dividends’?
Oct 9, 2017
Public officials tasked with helping their localities bounce back after natural disasters and other adverse events met with budget and financial officials to discuss collaboration, overlapping responsibilities, and spending. In discussing how impacts from these types of events often extend beyond...
EC to Improve Public Procurement – Thoughts on the Second Initiative
Oct 9, 2017
We mentioned here that the European Commission is looking to make improvements to the efficiency of public procurement. The initiative has four main strands:
Definition of priority areas for improvement
Voluntary ex-ante assessment of large infrastructure projects
Recommendation on...
GAO: Navy Cannot Order Items Not Listed on Vendor’s FSS Schedule
Oct 9, 2017
Like many, I enjoy a good meal out on the town. I tend to order strictly from the menu without any additions or substitutions. Perhaps, it is from all my years of waitressing prior to attending law school. In a recent GAO decision, however, the Navy attempted to order items not on the vendor’s...
European Commission Initiative to Improve Public Procurement – Initial Thoughts
Oct 6, 2017
We mentioned here that the European Commission is looking to make improvements to the efficiency of public procurement. The initiative has four main strands:
Definition of priority areas for improvement
Voluntary ex-ante assessment of large infrastructure projects
Recommendation on...
Taxpayers To Lose Out in Invest Northern Ireland Scheme
Oct 5, 2017
An investor warned Invest NI’s chief executive about problems with its investment funds in 2011. He says the losses to taxpayers from a £129 million finance scheme will be even greater than the almost £30 million projected by auditors. The Audit Office reported that Invest NI’s Access to...
How This New York Agency Is Using Drones for Conservation, Emergency Response Work
Oct 5, 2017
The New York Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) commissioner cites drone usage as a key driver of more efficient work and taxpayer savings. The department’s fleet of 22 drones are used for a variety of purposes across the state, from mapping eroded coastline and traffic monitoring...
Startup in Residence Program to Expand to Nation’s Capital
Oct 5, 2017
Washington, D.C. will be the lead city in the East Coast expansion of the Startup in Residence (STiR) program, the San Francisco-born program that fosters collaboration between startups and government agencies. The Office of the Chief Technology Officer, in collaboration with several other offices,...
New e-Book to Determine the Maturity of Your Procurement Process
Oct 5, 2017
eRequester, an eProcurement and spend management software system, announced today that it is publishing a guide to help organisations determine the maturity level of their procurement programmes. The e-book, Procurement Process Maturity: An Actionable Guide to Advancing Your Purchasing and...
IRS Awards $7.25 Million Contract to Equifax for Data Services
Oct 4, 2017
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) awarded Equifax a $7.25 million no-bid contract, even as the company continues facing fallout from its massive security breach. According to the award, the credit agency will verify taxpayer identities and help prevent fraud at the IRS. Lawmakers on both sides of...
