1.Preference for local
contractors
(a)
(1)Chapter 5 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
inserting after section 513 the following new section:
513A.Preference for
local contractors
(a)(1)The Secretary shall give
preference for awarding a covered contract to a local contractor.
(2)In giving preference for awarding a covered
contract to a local contractor under paragraph (1)—
(A)if such local contractor is a small
business concern, such preference shall be given in accordance with section
8127(i) of this title; and
(B)if
such local contractor is not a small business concern, the local contractor
shall be treated as a contractor covered under section 8127(i)(7).
(b)If the Secretary awards a covered contract to a
contractor that is not a local contractor, the Secretary shall publish a public
notice explaining why a local contractor was not awarded the contract.
(c)In
this section:
(1)The term
covered contract means a contract for—
(A)the construction
or maintenance of a facility of the Department; or
(B)services provided
to a particular facility or campus of the Department.
(2)The term
local contractor means a prime contractor that—
(A)submits a bid or
proposal for a covered contract; and
(B)has its principal
offices or location within a 60-mile radius of the facility of the Department
covered by such
contract.
.
(2)The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 513 the following
new item:
513A. Preference for local
contractors.
.
(3)Section 8106(a) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by striking The Secretary
and inserting In
accordance with section 513A of this title, the Secretary
.
(b)Section 8127(i) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(i)Priority for
Contracting PreferencesPreferences for awarding contracts to
small business concerns shall be applied in the following order of
priority:
(1)Contracts awarded pursuant to subsection
(b), (c), or (d) to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans
with service-connected disabilities that, for purposes of such a contract, are
local contractors under section 513A of this title.
(2)Contracts awarded pursuant to subsection
(b), (c), or (d) to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans
with service-connected disabilities that are not covered by paragraph
(1).
(3)Contracts awarded pursuant to subsection
(b), (c), or (d) to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans
that—
(A)are not covered by
paragraphs (1) or (2); and
(B)for purposes of
such a contract, are local contractors under section 513A of this title.
(4)Contracts awarded
pursuant to subsection (b), (c), or (d) to small business concerns owned and
controlled by veterans that are not covered by paragraphs (1), (2), or
(3).
(5)Contracts awarded pursuant to section 8(a)
of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)) or section 31 of such Act (15
U.S.C. 657a) to a contractor that, for purposes of such a contract, are local
contractors under section 513A of this title.
(6)Contracts awarded pursuant to any other
small business contracting preference to a contractor that, for purposes of
such a contract, are local contractors under section 513A of this title.
(7)Contracts awarded pursuant to section 8(a)
of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)) or section 31 of such Act (15
U.S.C. 657a) to a contractor that is not covered by paragraph (5).
(8)Contracts awarded pursuant to any other
small business contracting preference to a contractor that is not covered by
paragraph
(6).
.
(c)The amendments made by this section shall take effect 180
days after the date of the enactment of this Act.