[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1844 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1844

  To authorize a pilot program for purchasing buses by public transit 
   authorities that are recipients of assistance or grants from the 
                    Federal Transit Administration.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 18, 2001

 Mr. Bingaman (for himself and Mr. Domenici) introduced the following 
 bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, 
                       Housing, and Urban Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To authorize a pilot program for purchasing buses by public transit 
   authorities that are recipients of assistance or grants from the 
                    Federal Transit Administration.

    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 ``Public Transit Authority Pilot 
Procurement Authorization Act of 2001''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) Heavy-Duty Transit Bus.--The term ``heavy-duty transit bus'' 
has the same meaning given that term in the American Public 
Transportation Association Standard Procurement Guideline 
Specifications, dated March 25, 1999 and July 3, 2001, and as contained 
in the General Services Administration Solicitation FFAH-B1-002272-N.
    (b) Intercity Coach.--The term ``intercity coach'' has the meaning 
given that term in the General Services Administration Solicitation 
FFAH-B1-002272-N, section 1-4B, Amendment number 2, dated June 6, 2000.

SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM FOR SALE TO PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITIES.

    (a) In General.--The Federal Transit Administration of the 
Department of Transportation shall carry out a pilot program to 
facilitate and accelerate the procurement of heavy-duty transit buses 
and intercity coaches by State, local, and regional transportation 
authorities that are recipients of Federal Transit Administration 
assistance or grants where Federal funds provide the majority of the 
funding for the bus procurement, through existing or new or modified 
contracts with the General Services Administration. The transit 
authorities shall obtain Federal Transit Administration approval prior 
to placement of orders.
    (b) Reopening of Solicitation for Heavy-Duty Transit and Intercity 
Coaches.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law or Federal 
regulation, the General Services Administration Solicitation FFAH-B1-
002272-N shall be reopened to all qualified heavy-duty transit bus and 
intercity coach manufacturing companies to bid for contracts to sell 
such buses and coaches to State, local, and regional transportation 
authorities that are recipients of Federal Transit Administration 
assistance or grants where Federal funds provide the majority of the 
funding for the bus procurement.
    (c) Modifications of Existing GSA Contracts.--Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law or Federal regulation, heavy-duty transit bus 
manufacturing companies and intercity coach manufacturing companies who 
have existing contracts awarded by the General Services Administration 
under Solicitation FFAH-B1-002272-N prior to the date of enactment of 
this Act, shall be allowed to modify or restructure their bids 
incorporated in such contracts to respond to prospective sales of 
heavy-duty transit buses and intercity coaches to State, local, and 
regional transportation authorities that are recipients of Federal 
Transit Administration assistance or grants where Federal funds provide 
the majority of the funding for the bus procurement.
    (d) Authority To Purchase From Existing and New Contracts.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law or Federal regulation, 
State, local, and regional transportation authorities that are 
recipients of Federal Transit Administration assistance or grants where 
Federal funds provide the majority of the funding for the bus 
procurement are authorized to purchase heavy-duty transit buses and 
intercity coaches from--
            (1) existing contracts;
            (2) existing contracts as modified pursuant to subsection 
        (c); and
            (3) new contracts awarded by the General Services 
        Administration under the original or reopened Solicitation 
        FFAH-B1-002272-N.
    (e) Termination.--The pilot program carried out under this Act 
shall terminate on December 31, 2006.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF MULTIPLE AWARD SCHEDULE BY GSA.

    Not later than December 31, 2003, the General Services 
Administration, with assistance from and consultation with, the Federal 
Transit Administration, shall establish and publish a multiple award 
schedule for heavy-duty transit buses and intercity coaches which shall 
permit Federal agencies and State, regional, or local transportation 
authorities that are recipients of Federal Transit Administration 
assistance or grants where Federal funds provide the majority of the 
funding for the bus procurement, or other ordering entities, to acquire 
heavy-duty transit buses and intercity motor coaches under those 
schedules.

SEC. 5. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Transit 
Administration and the Administrator of General Services shall submit a 
joint report quarterly, in writing, to the Committee on Banking, 
Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate, and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
    (b) Contents.--The report required to be submitted under subsection 
(a) shall describe, with specificity--
            (1) all measures being taken to accelerate the processes 
        authorized under this Act, including estimates on the effect of 
        this Act on job retention in the bus and intercity coach 
        manufacturing industry;
            (2) job creation in the bus and intercity coach 
        manufacturing industry as a result of the authorities provided 
        under this Act; and
            (3) bus and intercity coach manufacturing economic growth 
        in those States and localities that have participated in the 
        pilot program to be carried out under this Act.

SEC. 6. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAW.

    Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Act, this Act 
shall be carried out in accordance with all applicable Federal transit 
laws and requirements.
                                 <all>