The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton

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When technology changes faster than acquisition cycles, government has a problem Aug 04, 2026

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New technologies and new threats are forcing agencies to make decisions faster than they once did. That reality is raising questions about whether federal acquisition processes are keeping pace. Stephanie Kostro, president of the Professional Services Council, joins me to talk through the challenge.

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Contracting officers have broad authority to evaluate proposals, but they don't get to change the scoring system Aug 04, 2026

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Past performance can make the difference in a best-value procurement. But agencies still have to evaluate it the way they said they would. That's the lesson from a recent GAO protest involving a Veterans Affairs acquisition support contract. Joining me now with the details is Zach Prince, partner at Haynes Boone.

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Many acquisition reform efforts focus on policies and regulations, DIU is betting on workforce changes Aug 04, 2026

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For years, acquisition reform has focused on new authorities, new pathways, and new policies. The Defense Innovation Unit believes the next challenge may be preparing acquisition professionals to use those tools effectively. Here to discuss that effort is Cherissa Tamayori, director of acquisition at the Defense Innovation Unit.

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New AI center works to bridge government and AI industry Aug 03, 2026

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The Trump administration has been pushing federal agencies to aggressively adopt artificial intelligence capabilities. And now a new Commerce Department center is serving as a gateway for connecting the AI industry with government. To break it all down, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins me.

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Administration gives Congress 20 more ideas to reform acquisition Aug 03, 2026

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The Trump administration has 20 additional ideas for improving federal acquisition. These range from dramatically increasing the simplified acquisition and micro purchase thresholds to raising the dollar figures on task order protests to allocating more money for acquisition workforce training. The Office of Management and Budget submitted these legislative proposals to Congress earlier this month. For more on what OMB is asking for, Federal News Network executive editor Jason Miller joins me now.

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The Senate is supposed to start its August recess, but will Senators make it out of town Aug 03, 2026

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The House has already left town, but the Senate still has a crowded agenda that includes spending legislation, nominations and other administration priorities. Whether lawmakers leave Washington as scheduled may depend on how much of that work they can complete first. Here with the latest is Bloomberg Government's Deputy News Director, Loren Duggan.

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Before governments commit billions of dollars to an infrastructure project, they have to decide how they'll measure success Aug 03, 2026

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Public-private partnerships are often justified through something known as a Value for Money analysis. New federal guidance aims to make those evaluations more transparent by putting greater emphasis on data, assumptions and documentation. Here to discuss those changes and what they could mean for future infrastructure decisions is Share Habibi, research and policy director at In the Public Interest.

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The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton - - Monday, August 3, 2026 Aug 03, 2026

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Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton . . .

The Senate is supposed to start its August recess next week. The question is whether senators will be packing suitcases or unpacking another round of White House priorities
Before governments commit billions of dollars to an infrastructure project, they have to decide how they'll measure success
A strong market can make investors feel smarter than they really are, it can also make them forget how much risk they're carrying

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A strong market can make investors feel smarter than they really are, and make them forget how much risk they're carrying Aug 03, 2026

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The first half of the year delivered strong returns for many TSP investors. But rising balances can sometimes mask a more important question: how much risk sits underneath those gains? Here with a midyear reality check is certified financial planner Arthur Stein.

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Accenture wins $821M Pentagon AI data platform contract Jul 31, 2026

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Two recent technology investments illustrate some of the Pentagon's biggest IT bets: consolidating enterprise software purchases and accelerating artificial intelligence across the military. Oracle landed a contract worth up to $7 billion to provide software and services across the Defense Department, while Accenture won an $821 million task order to expand the Pentagon's War Data Platform, which it views as the backbone of many of its AI efforts. They reflect a broader strategy to standardize IT infrastructure, avoid duplicative spending, and make it easier for AI analyze military data. Federal News Network's Rachel Cohen joins me now with a closer look.

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