SmallGovCon Week In Review: July 18-22, 2016

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I’m back in the office today after a great workshop with the Kansas PTAC where I spoke about Big Changes for Small Contractors–a presentation covering the major changes to the limitations on subcontracting, the SBA’s new small business mentor-protege program, and much more.  If you didn’t catch the presentation, I’ll be giving an encore presentation next week in Overland Park.

And since it’s Friday, it must be time for our weekly dose of government contracting news and notes.  In this week’s SmallGovCon Week In Review, we take a look at stories covering the anticipated increase in IT spending, the Contagious Diagnostics and Mitigation program is moving into phase 3, the GAO concludes the VA made errors in its contracting of medical exams and more.

  • The overall rate of IT spending will be above $98 billion each year for the next six federal fiscal years. [E-Commerce Times]
  • Tony Scott, U.S. Chief Information Officer, said he will allot time trying to improve how the federal government accepts unsolicited ideas from industry during what may be his last few months as the U.S. Chief Information Officer. [Nextgov]
  • The Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions contract will reshape how agencies procure telecommunications IT starting in 2020, but agencies need to prepare now. [FedTech]
  • The Homeland Security Department and the General Services Administration put two more key pieces in place under the Contagious Diagnostics and Mitigation program. [Federal News Radio]
  • The U.S. GAO is recommending the VA rebid its contracts for conducting medical exams for thousands of vets applying for disability payments after concluding the VA made several prejudicial errors in its process. [TRIB Live]
  • GSA launches a new special item number that will make it easier for agencies to find and buy the health IT services they need. [fedscoop]
  • The SBA has launched online tutorials for entities seeking SBIR funding. [SBA]
  • Three companies have agreed to pay $132,000 to resolve allegations of falsely self-certifying as small businesses in order to pay reduced nuclear material handling fees. [DOJ]