AGC Ensures Federal Contracting Reform Works for Members
Legislation to Address Abuses Concerning "No-Bid" Contracting

On March 8, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) reported H.R. 1362, the Accountability in Contracting Act. The legislation would change federal acquisition law to require agencies to limit the use of non-competitive and sole source contracts, increase transparency and accountability in federal contracting, and protect the integrity of the acquisition workforce.

Chairman Waxman has sought to make contracting reform one of his signature issues, focusing several oversight hearings this year on Iraq reconstruction. Attention over increasing reliance by the Federal agencies on non-competitive contracts also was a main driver of this legislation. Plans to successfully strip out some of the more controversial matters -- such as blacklisting -- from last year's version of the legislation were advanced through a joint effort by Chairman Waxman and the Ranking Member, Representative Tom Davis (R-VA).

The measure (HR 1362) would restrict the length of no-bid contracts without administration waivers, limit the frequency with which sole-source and cost-reimbursement contracts are awarded, and require public disclosure of agency justifications for no-bid contracts. AGC sent comments to the Committee expressing concern over a provision that addresses disclosure of perceived contractor "overcharges."

For more information, please contact Marco Giamberardino at (703) 837-5325 or giamberm@agc.org. [ return to top ]