Source:Obama to order govt contracting overhaul

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

President Barack Obama plans to change how government contracts are awarded and who can earn them, a move his aides say would save taxpayers about $40 billion a year by making the process more competitive.

Obama is to sign a presidential memo Wednesday that changes government contracting procedures, an administration official said on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss the decision before it was announced.

Obama's directive would order Peter Orszag, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, to work with Cabinet and agency officials to draft new contracting rules by the end of September. Those new rules, officials said, would make it more difficult for contractors to bilk taxpayers and make some half-trillion dollars in federal contracts each year more accessible to independent contractors.

During last week's White House meetings on the nation's financial future, lawmakers and officials bluntly told top Obama aides that government contracts needed to be handled in a better way. The president's own fleet of Marine One helicopters became an illustration of out-of-control spending.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090304/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_waste

[BlooInBloo]

1. An excellent place where a free(er) market can be helpful.

[maseman]

2. NICE! Where's the change? Oh yeah with Obama.

K & R.

[Demeter]

3. Good Luck With That

We've been there, done that, and gotten kicked in the teeth for it. Maybe this time...

[droidamus2]

4. Interesting

I have never quite understood the idea in Government contracts of getting bids (when they bother to in the first place), rewarding the contract to the lowest bidder and then adding in the contract that the Government will cover cost overruns. Doesn't that make the 'low bid' just a work of fiction. It comes down to who's willing to lie more upfront gets the contract.

[stlsaxman]

5. This is the "March Forth" legislation i've heard about.

[Jeep789]

6. Good on Obama - kick

[cal04]

7. Obama takes aim at costly U.S. defense contracts

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N04407906.htm

*Obama estimates reforms will save $40 bln annually

*Reforms would end unnecessary no-bid, cost-plus contracts

*Defense companies say they played by the rules

(Updates with additional quotes)

WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Wednesday the U.S. government was paying too much for things it did not need and ordered a crackdown on spending "plagued by massive cost overruns and outright fraud."

The Democrat, under fire from Republicans for the $3.5 trillion price tag for his 2010 budget plan, also took aim at predecessor George W. Bush and noted the cost of government contracts had doubled to more than half a trillion dollars over the past eight years.

[kpete]

8. Obama seeks major change in federal contracting

Source: Associated Press

Obama seeks major change in federal contracting

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on Wednesday ordered an overhaul of the way the U.S. government awards contracts for private sector work, reversing a Bush administration policy that in some cases led to federal investigations of procurement practices and no-bid contracts.

Obama joined Republican Sen. John McCain, his presidential campaign rival, and other congressional figures to announce an executive memorandum that commits his administration to a new set of marching orders for awarding contracts. Obama said "the days of giving government contractors a blank check are over" and said changes could save up to $40 billion a year.

One area in particular that is targeted is no-bid contracts, which the administration is seeking to change so that there will be more competition for government-paid work.

"Even if these were the best of times, budget reform would be overdue in Washington," Obama said.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090304/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_waste

[Burma Jones]

9. HOO-FUCKING-RAH

Speaking as an employee of a small business defense contractor........

I also think too much work is contracted out......

[Hope And Change]

10. K & R!Thanks for posting!

[goforit]

11. Hmmmm.....interesting.

[Tempest]

12. The pace of change since January is dizzying

Every day there are three or four reports of Bush era policies getting reversed and documents released.

This is what we waited 8 long years for and Obama hasn't disappointed.

[shanti]

13. absolutely~!

:woohoo:

[EFerrari]

14. This actually worries me because now he's messing with our owners.

[classysassy]

15. Ike

must be smiling