Bill Summary
This bill, titled the "VA Procurement Efficiency and Transparency Act", seeks to amend the United States Code to improve the procurement practices of the Department of Veterans Affairs. This includes requiring the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to record and make available information on cost or price savings from using competitive procedures in awarding contracts. The bill also calls for the use of standardized procurement templates throughout the Department, though they may be customized for specific situations.
Possible Impacts
1. This legislation could affect people by potentially streamlining the procurement process for contracts awarded by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This could have a positive impact on companies and individuals bidding for these contracts, as well as the department itself.
2. It could also affect people by increasing transparency in the procurement process, as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs would be required to record and report information on cost or price savings achieved through competitive procedures. This could provide more information for taxpayers and stakeholders to evaluate the efficiency and fairness of the department's procurement practices.
3. Additionally, the use of standardized procurement templates could affect people by promoting consistency and efficiency within the department. This could potentially lead to more timely and effective procurement decisions, which could have a positive impact on the delivery of services to veterans and their families.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1577 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1577
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the procurement
practices of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 6, 2019
Mr. Wittman (for himself, Mrs. Hartzler, and Mr. Bergman) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the procurement
practices of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``VA Procurement Efficiency and
Transparency Act''.
SEC. 2. INFORMATION ON COST OR PRICE SAVINGS FROM COMPETITION.
(a) In General.--Chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 8128 the following new section:
``Sec. 8129. Information on cost or price savings from competition
``(a) Recording of Information.--With respect to any contract
awarded by the Secretary that is reported in the Federal Procurement
Data System described in section 1122(a)(4)(A) of title 41, United
States Code, or any successor system, the Secretary shall record
information on the amount of any cost or price savings realized by
using competitive procedures in awarding such contract.
``(b) Placement of Records.--The Secretary shall place recorded
information under subsection (a) as follows:
``(1) With respect to contracts recorded in the Electronic
Contract Management System, or any successor system, in such
system.
``(2) With respect to contracts not covered by paragraph
(1), in a location determined appropriate by the Secretary.
``(c) Calculation of Cost Savings.--(1) In carrying out subsection
(a), the Secretary shall calculate the amount of cost or price savings
realized by using competitive procedures in awarding a contract by--
``(A) subtracting the total value of the selected offer or
quote from the average of the total values of all offers or
quotes evaluated; or
``(B) subtracting the total value of the selected offer or
quote from the total value of the median offer or quote
evaluated.
``(2) If the difference calculated pursuant to paragraph (1) is
negative, the Secretary shall record such difference as zero.
``(3) The Secretary shall make calculations under paragraph (1)
with respect to a contract--
``(A) at the time at which the Secretary obligates amounts
under such contract; or
``(B) if such contract contains options, at the time at
which the option is exercised.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
8128 the following new item:
``8129. Information on cost or price savings from competition.''.
SEC. 3. USE OF STANDARDIZED PROCUREMENT TEMPLATES.
To the extent practicable, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
make available and use on a Department-wide basis the standardized
procurement templates used by the Central Office of the Department, the
Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration,
and the National Cemetery Administration. In carrying out this section,
the Secretary may customize such templates to address particular
procurement situations.
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