DOE Error Causes Contracting Redo

Losing bidders will get a second shot to win a $23 billion contract with the National Nuclear Security Administration for work at the Y-12 and Pantex nuclear facilities because the NNSA “failed to make meaningful assessments” of the proposed cost savings of any of the original bids.

Illegal Foreclosures Are Corporate Trade Secrets?

Federal agencies are withholding information about the illegal foreclosure practices of mortgage companies from Members of Congress, relying on justifications that closely track those used to withhold documents from the general public under the Freedom of Information Act.

Still Fighting to Expose Secret Law

POGO joined an amicus brief written by the Electronic Privacy Information Center supporting The New York Times in its effort to obtain a memorandum written by the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel regarding the legality of the targeted killing of individuals deemed to have ties to terrorism.

Training Day: Improving Skills of the Acquisition Workforce

An April 16 GAO report indicates civilian agencies are having trouble training the acquisition workforce and determining if training investments are paying off, ultimately putting the government at risk of overspending on contracts and wasting taxpayer dollars.

The Benefits of Bid Protests

In his recent article "Bid Protests: The Costs Are Real, But the Benefits Outweigh Them" Daniel I. Gordon defends the U.S. bid protest system and argues that the benefits of the system can be enhanced though greater transparency in government procurements.

Friend of the Court: POGO Joins Fight for Sunshine

POGO recently joined in a “friend of the court” brief supporting the Electronic Frontier Foundation in its attempt to compel the government to release an Office of Legal Counsel memorandum and to stem the growth of a vast body of secret law.

Watchdogs Not Immune from Sequestration Cuts

Inspectors General face budget cuts as a result of sequestration, raising questions about how the abilities of IGs to conduct investigations and audits to uncover waste, fraud, and abuse in their agencies will be impacted.

Shining a Light on FOIA Practices

In celebration of Sunshine Week, a number of organizations released studies of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests that indicate how government agencies measured up in terms of providing information to the public in 2012.