Bill Summary
This bill, known as the Department of Veterans Affairs Procurement Efficiency and Transparency Act of 2019, aims to improve the procurement practices of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It requires the VA to record and report any cost or price savings achieved through using competitive procedures when awarding contracts. This information will be placed in the Federal Procurement Data System or a successor system. The bill also mandates the use of standardized procurement templates by the VA, with the option to customize them for specific situations.
Possible Impacts
1. The Department of Veterans Affairs Procurement Efficiency and Transparency Act of 2019 could potentially increase competition for contracts, leading to lower prices for the government and potentially saving taxpayers money. This could benefit people by reducing the overall cost of government programs and services.
2. The requirement to record and report cost or price savings from competitive procedures in awarding contracts could lead to increased accountability and transparency in the procurement process. This could benefit people by ensuring that taxpayer money is being spent efficiently and effectively.
3. The use of standardized procurement templates could potentially streamline the procurement process and make it easier for small businesses and minority-owned businesses to compete for government contracts. This could benefit people by promoting diversity and inclusivity in government contracting and creating more opportunities for small businesses to grow and succeed.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 341 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 341
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the procurement
practices of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 5, 2019
Mr. Gardner (for himself and Ms. Sinema) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and 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 ``Department of Veterans Affairs
Procurement Efficiency and Transparency Act of 2019''.
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, 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 of
Veterans Affairs, 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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