DoD: How is it meeting the security challenges facing the nation?

Bill Greenwalt, visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and Moshe Schwartz, president of Etherton and Associates, joins host Roger Waldron on this week's Off the Shelf to discuss the national security threats and how the Department of Defense is responding to deliver the capabilities to meet the challenges facing our nation.  

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 21:51:58

Government shutdown puts contractors in precarious position

There's never a convenient time for a full or even a partial government shutdown, but we've reached the beginning of the end of another fiscal year with the likelihood of a shutdown rising. So how can contractors make sure they're ready for it and minimize the damage?

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 14:29:20

Hard Talk: Confessions of an Accidental Marketing and Communications Professional

Federal marketing and communcations leader Eileen Rivera joins host Mark Amtower on this week's Amtower Off Center to talk about her new book, Hard Talk: Confessions of an Accidental Marketing and Communications Professional."

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 21:46:21

Government funding in fiscal year 2023

Tim Cook, executive director of the Center for Procurement Advocacy (CPA) and Tom Sisti, counsel for the CPA and executive vice president of the Coalition for Government Procurement (CGP) join host Roger Waldron on this week's Off the Shelf to discuss the key timelines and milestones for funding the government as we approach the end of the fiscal year.

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 21:17:00

Federal Acquisition Service’s new structure seeks to break down long-held fiefdoms

Sonny Hashmi, the commissioner of the General Services Administration’s Federal Acquisition Service, said the new organizational approach will be made up of five divisions and focused on agency customers.

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 19:38:26

What the FAS pricing guidance says, doesn’t say about order level competition

The PAP is a significant policy document, providing guidance to FAS contracting officers regarding the negotiation of Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contracts.  It essentially modifies the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) regarding the negotiation of fair and reasonable pricing under the Federal Supply Service (FSS) program. 

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 18:27:56

Air Force abruptly cancels a huge cybersecurity solicitation

In today's Federal Newscast: A State Department contractor has been arrested for allegedly sharing classified information with a foreign government. Cisco Systems is buying cybersecurity and data firm Splunk for $28 billion, in a cash deal. And the Air Force abruptly cancels a huge cybersecurity solicitation.

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 13:12:00

The state of the Federal Acquisition Service

Sonny Hashmi, commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service, joins host Roger Waldron on this week's Off the Shelf to discuss the state of FAS, including outlining the ongoing realignment of the organization. 

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 23:02:54

Pentagon chooses 8 new ‘hubs’ to lead $2B effort to revitalize US microelectronics

The initial awards, worth $238 million, went to the future operators of eight “hubs” DoD is establishing as part of its Microelectronics Commons program.

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 11:14:54

A messy dispute caught one company for millions of dollars of government refund demands

The CARES Act, enacted during the pandemic, let the government reimburse contractors for employees on paid leave: Those who could not access federal work sites or work remotely. One company took the money, then later faced a demand from the Navy for a $4 million reimbursement. It gets ugly. For more, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Haynes Boone partner Zach Prince.

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 14:16:14

Contractors prepare for shutdown, or at least an austere October

With continuing resolution discussions seeming to nowhere, the chances of a government shutdown are rising. Contractors and federal employees will feel it first. For more, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with David Berteau, President & CEO of the Professional Services Council, who has developed a contractor checklist that might help you.

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 17:07:39

What good is federal grant money if you can’t get your hands on it?

The Build Back Better Act, passed nearly two years ago, secured over $2 trillion for many aspects of the Biden Administration's agenda, one of which includes infrastructure projects for state and local governments. But accessing grant money isn't as simple as sending a Venmo request. There's a lot that goes into showing exactly how and what the money would be used for, a process not many know how to navigate. To help, members of Congress have introduced a bill tasking the Economic Development Administration to make itself available to aide local governments in predevelopment procedures. One of those congressmen is Louisiana's Troy Carter, who spoke with Federal Drive Executive Producer Eric White about the Economic Empowerment Through Predevelopment Act. 

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 15:57:42

So far, no FAR: A look inside one agency’s unique procurement shop

Imagine a federal procurement shop where you use every technique, except the Federal Acquisition Regulation. And you don't do grants, either. And you've got congressional backing for your novel approach. That's the case for one of the government's newer agencies, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, known as ARPA-H. For a look on the inside, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Diane Sidebottom, ARPA-H Director of Acquisition and Contracts.

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 18:52:12

Contractors worry first about getting the contract and second, can they fulfill it

People running federal contractors must forecast their annual business, no less than any other CEO. What makes the federal market unique is that the specific size is known year after year.

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 17:18:11

The regulations on federal contractors keep piling on

The Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs, part of the Labor Department, has gotten White House go-ahead, for what one lawyer calls, "A significant expansion of data that contractors must report." It is all in a new schedule letter and itemized listing. To unravel it all, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with that attorney: Andrew Turnbull, a partner at Morrison Foerster.

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 17:00:26