[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3676 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3676

 To promote high-quality, cost-efficient, and effective administrative 
                 support services to agencies overseas.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 12, 2012

   Mr. Akaka introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To promote high-quality, cost-efficient, and effective administrative 
                 support services to agencies overseas.

    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 ``Reducing Duplication Overseas Act of 
2012''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to promote high-quality, cost-efficient, 
and effective administrative support services to agencies overseas.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' means a department, 
        agency, or independent establishment in the executive branch 
        performing any foreign affairs functions.
            (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
                Senate;
                    (B) the Committee on Homeland Security and 
                Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
                    (C) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
                    (D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
                of Representatives;
                    (E) the Committee on Oversight and Government 
                Reform of the House of Representatives; and
                    (F) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
                Representatives.
            (3) International cooperative administrative support 
        services system.--The term ``International Cooperative 
        Administrative Support Services system'' means the mechanism 
        established pursuant to section 23 of the State Department 
        Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2695) by which the 
        United States Government manages and funds administrative 
        support services at overseas posts.
            (4) International cooperative administrative support 
        services customer agencies.--The term ``International 
        Cooperative Administrative Support Services customer agencies'' 
        means agencies participating in the International Cooperative 
        Administrative Support Services system.
            (5) International cooperative administrative support 
        services executive board.--The term ``International Cooperative 
        Administrative Support Services Executive Board'' means the 
        highest-level International Cooperative Administrative Support 
        Services policy-making body comprised of senior representatives 
        of agencies participating in the International Cooperative 
        Administrative Support Services system.

SEC. 4. PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE ADMINISTRATIVE 
              SUPPORT SERVICES SYSTEM.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, each agency with operations overseas under the 
authority of the Chief of Mission pursuant to section 207 of the 
Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3927) shall participate in the 
International Cooperative Administrative Support Services system for 
purposes of obtaining household furniture, furnishings, and appliance 
pools services, motor pool services, and management services unless--
            (1) the agency provides a detailed explanation for 
        evaluation and decision by the International Cooperative 
        Administrative Support Services Executive Board that 
        describes--
                    (A) how the agency will provide the service outside 
                of the International Cooperative Administrative Support 
                Services system;
                    (B) the cost to the agency of the service; and
                    (C) how providing the service outside the 
                International Cooperative Administrative Support 
                Services system will not increase overall costs to the 
                United States Government; or
            (2) the agency submits a detailed explanation for 
        evaluation and decision by the International Cooperative 
        Administrative Support Services Executive Board certifying that 
        the mission of the agency cannot be achieved by such 
        participation in the International Cooperative Administrative 
        Support Services system.
    (b) Rule of Construction.--The motor pool services requirement 
under subsection (a) applies to administrative services, and shall not 
be construed as superseding, removing, or limiting any statutory or 
programmatic requirements related to agency use or procurement of 
vehicles.

SEC. 5. USE OF ALTERNATE SERVICE PROVIDERS.

    The International Cooperative Administrative Support Services 
Executive Board shall allow an agency to act as an alternate service 
provider for administrative services at an overseas post in place of 
the existing International Cooperative Administrative Support Services 
provider for purposes of reducing overall costs to the United States 
Government if the agency--
            (1) demonstrates through a business case that it can 
        provide the administrative service more efficiently; and
            (2) agrees to provide the administrative service to all 
        other International Cooperative Administrative Support Services 
        customer agencies at the overseas post.

SEC. 6. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Biennial Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the 
        Secretary of State, in consultation with the International 
        Cooperative Administrative Support Services Executive Board, 
        shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
        report on the International Cooperative Administrative Support 
        Services system.
            (2) Content.--The report required under paragraph (1) 
        shall--
                    (A) establish performance goals to define the level 
                of performance to be achieved in providing efficient, 
                effective, and equitable administrative services to 
                International Cooperative Administrative Support 
                Services customer agencies;
                    (B) establish a balanced set of performance 
                indicators to be used in measuring or assessing 
                progress toward each performance goal;
                    (C) describe how the International Cooperative 
                Administrative Support Services system ensures the 
                accuracy and reliability of the data used to measure 
                progress; and
                    (D) identify strategies and the resources required 
                to achieve performance goals.
    (b) Comptroller General Review.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
        United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
        committees a review of the International Cooperative 
        Administrative Support Services system.
            (2) Content.--The review required under paragraph (1) shall 
        include--
                    (A) an evaluation of whether requiring agencies to 
                participate in the International Cooperative 
                Administrative Support Services system for household 
                furniture, furnishings, and appliance pools services 
                and motor pools services has increased cost-efficiency 
                and reduced administrative redundancies;
                    (B) recommendations, if warranted, for further 
                consolidation of services in the International 
                Cooperative Administrative Support Services system;
                    (C) an evaluation of how implementation of this Act 
                is affecting the performance of International 
                Cooperative Administrative Support Services customer 
                agencies; and
                    (D) recommendations, if warranted, for improving 
                the International Cooperative Administrative Support 
                Services system and implementing this Act.
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