Job Competition Restrictions Out of Spending Bill
Most federal agencies are looking for an early Christmas present: their 2005 appropriations, which were due before Halloween.

New Incentives for Vets, HUBZone Subcontracts
The Defense Department is moving to steer more subcontracts to service-disabled veteran and HUBZone businesses by rewarding large prime contractors for working with those firms.

Procurement Scandal: Defense Dept. Underscores "Revolving Door" Rules
The Defense Department has issued new guidance on its “revolving door” rules, covering civilian employees who go to work for defense contractors.

Procurement Scandal: Rumsfeld Says "Adult Supervision" Lacking at Air Force
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld blamed the Air Force procurement scandal on rapid turnover in top management ranks, which left “very little adult supervision” of the service’s deputy acquisitions chief, Darleen Druyun.

Personnel Management Office Will Take Over Defense Dept. Security Clearances
In a long-delayed move to speed up processing of security clearances, the Office of Personnel Management will soon absorb the Defense Security Service, consolidating the vast majority of clearance investigations in a single agency.

Safavian Confirmed as Procurement Policy Chief
The Senate confirmed President Bush’s nomination of David Safavian to head OMB’s Office of Federal Procurement Policy.

Time-and-Materials Contracts: Industry, Government Officials Have Different Views
Industry groups are urging the Federal Acquisition Regulation councils to allow the use of time-and-materials or labor hour contracts on a wide range of commercial services.

Temporary Workers Lose Union Rights
Temporary workers have no right to join the same bargaining unit as permanent employees, the National Labor Relations Board has ruled.