Happy Friday, Readers. We have been in the midst of a heatwave here in Kansas with temperatures at 100 degrees and the humidity at 91%. Whew! We are very grateful for air conditioning during the dog days of summer. Here’s an interesting fact. The ancient Romans called the hottest, most humid days of summer “diēs caniculārēs” or “dog days.” The name came about because they associated the hottest days of summer with the star Sirius. Sirius was known as the “Dog Star” because it was the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major (Large Dog).

There was a lot of news and announcements in Federal government contracting this week such as several executive orders and proposed rules impacting federal government contractors related to the Buy American Act and boosting federal competition, and the U.S. Small Business Administration has an update on successfully awarding over $7.5 billion in Shuttered Venue Operators Grants (SVOGs) as well as announcing the opening of the paycheck protection program direct forgiveness portal.

Here’s hoping that the weather is cooler in your neck of the woods. Stay cool and have a great weekend!

• Agencies on the hook to meet new Buy American acquisition goals for most products [FedNewsNet]
• Covid-19 Contracting: Actions Needed to Enhance Transparency and Oversight of Selected Awards [GAO]
• Executive order contains 72 initiatives on boosting competition in federal contracting [FedNewsNet]
• FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Issues Proposed Buy American Rule, Advancing the President’s Commitment to Ensuring the Future of America is Made in America by All of America’s Workers [Whitehouse]
• VA deputy secretary to oversee troubled EHR program [Fedscoop]
• SBA Reaches New Milestone Awarding $7.5 Billion in Shuttered Venue Operators Grants to over 10,000 Venues [SBA]
• SBA Announces Opening of Paycheck Protection Program Direct Forgiveness Portal [SBA]
• Federal Government Awards Record-Breaking $145.7 Billion in Contracting to Small Businesses [Bakerfield]
• Executive order contains 72 initiatives on boosting competition in federal contracting [FedNewsNet]
• FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Issues Proposed Buy American Rule, Advancing the President’s Commitment to Ensuring the Future of America is Made in America by All of America’s Workers [Whitehouse]
• Biden administration eyes mandates under new effort to improve critical infrastructure cybersecurity [FedNewsNet]
• The High Cost of Leaving Key Federal Management Jobs Unfilled [GovExec]
• Agencies on the hook to meet new Buy American acquisition goals for most products [FedNewsNet]