[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 60 (Thursday, May 5, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E829-E830]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF THE CONSTRUCTION QUALITY ASSURANCE ACT OF 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 5, 2011

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today, along with my colleague Rep. Mazie 
Hirono, I am introducing the Construction Quality Assurance Act of 
2011. This bill is designed to stop bid shopping on federal 
construction contracts. It would require prime bidders on low-bid 
projects valued at $1 million or more to list each subcontractor on 
work categories of $100,000 or more with their bid submissions. 
Substitutions of listed subcontractors after contracts are awarded 
would be allowed only

[[Page E830]]

in exceptional circumstances and only with the consent of the 
contracting officer.
  The bill would impose financial penalties for improper substitution 
of listed subcontractors. The bill would also apply to subcontractors. 
Both prime contractors and subcontractors would be subject to debarment 
or ineligibility determinations in cases where there are two 
infractions of the prohibitions over any three-year period.
  Restoring equitable safeguards in the low bid system will assure that 
agency practice will conform to the highest standards adhered to by 
industry professionals and contractor associations, and will reflect 
best practices followed by a great many other public procurement 
systems nationally and internationally.

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