According to a note published in the Federal Register, General Services is looking for comments and feedback on the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information Systems (FAPIIS) – the new database aiming to keep government contractors honest.

GSA faces some problems in the early stages of the project, such as how to make the system as agile and easy to use as possible.

Without direction, the crush of information on the site could become overwhelming and make the tool difficult to use.  And there would be a lengthy list of info:  according to the 2009 Defense Authorization Act, which tasked the GSA with the creation of FAPIIS, any firm with more than $10 million in federal grants or task orders must submit information to the site – and any time a federal agency is awarding a deal worth more that $500,000, they have to conduct research on the firm based on the FAPIIS.

The comment call lasts until the end of March, ahead of FAPIIS yet to be scheduled launch.

Related posts:

1. DoD Hands Down Final Word on Interagency Procurements The Department of Defense is adopting as final, with changes,...
2. Health IT Training Grants at HHS The Department of Health and Human Services made known last...
3. More Green Jobs & More Clean-Energy Clean-energy investments can help America in more ways that one....

The now-final rule adds new policy to address certain requirements and expands existing DFARS definitions – effective March 15, 2010.

According to the Defense Acquisitions Regulations System:“Section 854 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 prescribes policy for the acquisition of supplies and services through the use of contracts or orders issued by non-DoD agencies. Section 801(b)(1), at paragraphs (A) and (C), of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Pub. L. 110-181) authorizes a DoD acquisition official to procure property and services in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold through civilian agencies only if–

(1) The civilian agencies agree to adhere to defense procurement requirements; or

(2) The Under Secretary of Defense (AT&L) certifies that the procurement is in the best interest of the Department.”

Some other notes about the rule – “The statute also requires DoD to issue guidance on interagency contracting consistent with the Act that addresses the circumstances in which it is appropriate for DoD acquisition officials to procure goods or services through a contract entered into by an agency outside the DoD.

DoD published an interim rule at 74 FR 34270 on July 15, 2009, to address the new statutory requirements. Statutory limitations in section 817 of Public Law 109-364, the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007, and section 811 of Public Law 109-163, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006, were previously implemented and do not impact this change.”

Related posts:

1. GSA Official Makes Move to Northrop Grumman David Drabkin is moving to Northrop Grumman from his position...
2. House Passes Bill that Will Reduce Need of Contractors The House approved a spending bill on December 16th, 2009...
3. James Tabbed to Head NSPSTO John H. James, Jr., has been appointed to lead the...

An objective directed from President Obama, agencies are to cut $40 billion from contracting budgets by 2011.  The administration hopes that by cutting non-competitive contracts and in sourcing some jobs the demand for government contractors will subside.  Most agencies as a result will see an increase is staffing.

The government, a major worldwide buyer, has permitted agencies to act as separate customers for too long, contributing, in part, to wasteful spending, said Jeffrey D. Zients, OMB deputy director for management.

Zients also went on to say that the practices and abuses of the agencies operations towards government-contracting  would not be present in the private sector and further they are unacceptable and will be fixed.

Currently, the government is the world’s largest buyer of goods and spending on contracts has doubled since 2002.  President Obama will be making comments today on the OMB progress report.

This fall however, lawmakers have acted with trepidation concerning Obama’s contracting reforms.

The one major item missing from OMB’s report is the definition of “inherently governmental functions” which would determine services contractors should no longer conduct.

Zients thinks that in the end “all of us want to save money here, and the progress we’ve made in identifying the $19 billion gets us off to a very fast start.”

Related posts:

1. Obama Gets Tough on Tax-Delinquent Contractors President Obama has ordered the Office of Management and Budget,...
2. Is PCI Fracturing Relationships Between Contractors and the Federal Government? While there has been a lot of recent buzz over...
3. Open Government Sees Big Boost in FY11 Budget The ongoing movement towards success in the Open Government technology...

There is $5 billion in the bill alone to bring prior outsourced functions to contractors to the Department of Defense. According to the bill, this will save $44,000 a year for each position moved to the Department of Defense instead of an outside defense contractor.

Another $288 million of the bill goes to increase oversight of the department’s acquisition and contracting actions. Then $104 billion goes to procurement, $80.5 goes towards research and development, and the rest will go towards the funding of electronic warfare and a new Future Combat Systems program.

The bill also stated that 212,000 contractors had been issued Common Access Cards (CSCs) by mistake. The bill requires the Department of Defense to have more in house security in the checking and issuing of the CACs.

To see the bill in its entirety visit: http://www.rules.house.gov/111/RuleRpt/111_dodapprops_rpt.pdf

Related posts:

1. New EPA Report and the Unresolved Bill The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency revealed a report that the...
2. Obama Gets Tough on Tax-Delinquent Contractors President Obama has ordered the Office of Management and Budget,...
3. Is PCI Fracturing Relationships Between Contractors and the Federal Government? While there has been a lot of recent buzz over...

The program is in place to avoid conflicts between contractors that have a contract for support services as well as development on the same program. According to a recent ManTech press release, ManTech President and COO Larry Prior stated, “This certification reaffirms our commitment to providing non-conflicted services to the NRO and its DoD, Civil and Intelligence Community customers and demonstrates our leadership as a premier provider of systems engineering and technical services throughout the federal government. It also represents a great opportunity for ManTech to create alliances with high-quality business partners who share our commitment to provided non-conflicted systems engineering services to customers worldwide.”

Related posts:

1. Secretary Gates Announces New NGA Director Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates announced yesterday that Letitia Long...
2. Jeffrey A. Sorenson Lt. Gen. Jeffrey A. Sorenson is the Department of the...
3. HHS Issues Proposed Rule for Certifying EHRs The Health and Human Services Department and the National Institute...