The Army will re-evaluate all offers for its Information Technology Enterprise Solutions-2 Services contracts following protests by losing bidders, Government Computer News reported.

“No contract work will be performed under the existing contracts until this review of offers is accomplished, Barbara J. Trujillo, the ITES-2S contracting officer, wrote in a letter to Army trial attorney Karl M. Ellcessor. She said the re-evaluation will concentrate on one subfactor in the offers, and “it could affect the award decision ultimately reached by the Source Selection Authority.”

The Army awarded IDIQ contracts last month to 11 companies, including three small businesses. The contracts could be worth up to $20 billion.

GSA has begun offering buyouts to up to 400 employees. The agency announced plans to downsize because of steep losses in some of its contracting activities. It also froze hiring in the Federal Technology Service and Federal Supply Service.

GSA named John Johnson as assistant commissioner of Integrated Technology Solutions. He replaces Deidre Lee, who left the agency in March.

The office manages GSA’s IT schedules and GWACs. Johnson is already supervising two major pending acquisitions: the Alliant IT services vehicle and the Networx telecommunications contract.

Contracting officers’ representatives need better training and improved oversight, according to a report by the Merit Systems Protection Board.

The CORs, technical experts who assist contracting officers, have been overlooked in the recent changes in federal procurement, the report found.

“In recent years, the government has modernized its contracting rules and procedures and improved the management of contracting officers who carry out the business aspects of contracting,” the report said. “However, almost no work has been done to assess agencies’ management of contracting officer representatives who provide the technical expertise necessary to effectively develop and oversee contracts.”

The Merit Systems Protection Board is charged with enforcing civil service laws and regulations. The board said it surveyed CORs in agencies that account for 90% of federal procurement.

SBA is denying a request for a waiver of the nonmanufacturer rule for Lenses, Ophthalmic, Manufacturing. The agency said it has found a small business manufacturer for those products. The rule is effective May 24