Protests are now permitted on task orders worth more than $10 million. A provision in the 2008 defense authorization went into effect May 26, allowing contractors to protest task order awards for the first time.

Three protests have already been filed, Government Executive magazine reported.

Congress responded to the rapid growth of task order contracts, such as the Homeland Security Department’s Eagle and First Source and the Navy’s Seaport-e. Backers of the protest provision said it would bring transparency to the contracts.

A House subcommittee has recommended shelving the Bush administration’s competitive sourcing initiative until a new presidential administration takes office next year.

The House Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee included the one-year moratorium on new A-76 competitions as part of its 2009 appropriation bill.

Federal employee unions have been battling the job competitions, and Congress has repeatedly imposed restrictions on them.

The Office of Management and Budget has quietly renamed the controversial competitive sourcing initiative. It is now called “commercial services management.”

The IRS is raising the business mileage deduction to 58.5 cents a mile, from 50.5 cents.

Commissioner Doug Shulman said the mid-year increase reflects rising gasoline prices. It is effective from July 1 through Dec. 31.

Former federal acquisition leader Deidre Lee has joined government contractor CompuSearch as director of its defense and intelligence markets.

Lee held several of the most senior government acquisition posts before retiring this year.

CompuSearch provides acquisition and grants management software to federal agencies.

SBA is granting the waiver of the nonmanufacturer rule for Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (Drones and Aircraft Launching Equipment), NAICS code 336413, Product Service Codes 1550 and 1720.

The agency says no small businesses are supplying these products to the government. The waiver is effective July 8.