[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 160 (Wednesday, December 12, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7980-S7982]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. AKAKA:
  S. 3676. A bill to promote high-quality, cost-efficient, and 
effective administrative support services to agencies

[[Page S7981]]

overseas; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I rise to introduce the Reducing 
Duplication Overseas Act of 2012.
  At a time when the Federal Government is facing significant fiscal 
challenges, we must explore all potential avenues to improve the 
efficiency and effectiveness of Federal programs. This bill seeks to 
ease some of our current fiscal pressures by eliminating duplication of 
certain administrative services at overseas posts and reducing 
administrative operational costs.
  The Department of State oversees the International Cooperative 
Administrative Support Services, ICASS, system, which provides and 
shares the cost of administrative support services for overseas 
employees, such as vehicle maintenance or leasing services. The purpose 
of developing this system was to ensure more efficient delivery and 
quality of overseas administrative support services. Although the level 
of agency participation varies, as use of ICASS for most administrative 
services is voluntary, last year, more than 40 agencies participated in 
ICASS and the cost of the services totaled approximately $2 billion.
  In 2004, the Government Accountability Office, GAO, reported that 
ICASS had not achieved efficient delivery of administrative support 
services because it failed to eliminate duplicative services and 
contain costs. GAO recommended that there be one provider for each 
service at American facilities overseas. The ICASS Executive Board took 
steps to reduce costs, but still had not implemented GAO's 
recommendation that there be a single service provider.
  In 2010, former Senator Voinovich and I requested that the GAO review 
the delivery of administrative services at overseas posts. In their 
report issued earlier this year, GAO concluded that, although agency 
participation in ICASS has increased, agencies chose to provide their 
own services about one third of the time, resulting in duplicative 
administrative services and missed opportunities to decrease costs.
  Duplication and overseas administrative costs can and must be 
decreased. The Reducing Duplication Overseas Act seeks to eliminate 
duplicative services and reduce overall costs to the Federal Government 
by requiring agencies to use ICASS for services. Although the GAO 
recommends that agencies consolidate all services with ICASS, this bill 
starts with only a few services in order to determine best practices 
for consolidation, as well as whether consolidation is appropriate for 
all services.
  Specifically, the Act would require agencies to participate in the 
ICASS for household furniture, furnishings, appliance pools, and motor 
pool services, unless the agency provides an explanation on how 
providing the service outside the ICASS system will not increase 
overall costs to the Federal Government or if it certifies that the 
mission of the agency cannot be achieved by participating in ICASS 
system.
  Additionally, the bill would allow an agency to provide 
administrative services at an overseas post in place of the existing 
ICASS provider if it can provide the administrative service more 
efficiently and agrees to provide the administrative service to all 
ICASS customer agencies at the overseas post.
  The Act would also require the ICASS Executive Board and the 
Comptroller General of the United States to submit reports to Congress 
on agency use of ICASS services and the impact consolidating these 
services has on cost-efficiencies and redundancies at overseas posts. 
Nothing in this bill is intended to interfere with the existing 
authorities of the Chief of Mission at each overseas post.
  I believe that this bill is an important step towards improving the 
efficiency and effectiveness of government operations overseas. 
Although I will not have the opportunity to push for this bill in the 
next Congress, it is my hope that my colleagues will take up and pass 
this important legislation.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3676

       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.

[[Page S7982]]

       (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.

                          ____________________