After spending the majority of the week in Norman, Oklahoma for the ICBS Show, I am back in the office, and ready for our weekly dose of government contracts news and commentary.

This week, a large corporation gets busted for misusing taxpayer money, the IT industry is becoming more and more concerned about new cybersecurity rules, the government’s operation of two separate SDVOSB programs causes confusion, and much more.

• A Department of Veterans Affairs official learned the hard way that accepting a prepaid vacation package from a contractor is not a particularly good idea. [The Daily Caller]
• Does federal contract award data need a few good proofreaders? A contractor has developed a tool to identify and correct errors in the government’s procurement databases. [Government Executive]
• A commentator discusses ways to eliminate roadblocks that deter businesses from pursuing government contracts. [The Business of Federal Technology]
• Lockheed Martin is paying nearly $5 million to resolve allegations that it improperly lobbied for the extension of one of its contracts. [HNGN]
• The IT industry is concerned about new cybersecurity rules, which some contractors calls burdensome and confusing. [NextGov]
• Why does the end of the fiscal year always result in a “rush” to spend contracting dollars?  According to one source, a mix of budget uncertainty and the use-it-or-lose-it nature of federal funding is the cause. [Federal Times]
• The federal government’s operation of two separate SDVOSB programs is causing confusion. [Washington Business Journal]
• Business groups are calling on regulators to withdraw forthcoming labor regulations they say will “blacklist” companies from procuring contracts. [The Hill]
• The Professional Services Council is calling on the Labor Department to update the wage rate for certain federal contractors who are providing services across the country. [FierceGovernment]