[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 1, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H315-H317]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    PROMOTING RIGOROUS AND INNOVATIVE COST EFFICIENCIES FOR FEDERAL 
                PROCUREMENT AND ACQUISITIONS ACT OF 2021

  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (S. 583) to promote innovative acquisition techniques and 
procurement strategies, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 583

       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 ``Promoting Rigorous and 
     Innovative Cost Efficiencies for Federal Procurement and 
     Acquisitions Act of 2021'' or the ``PRICE Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) small business participation in the Federal marketplace 
     is key to ensuring a strong industrial base;
       (2) the Business Opportunity Development Reform Act of 1988 
     (Public Law 100-656) sets forth the requirement for the 
     President to establish Government-wide goals for procurement 
     contracts awarded to small businesses;
       (3) each year, the Small Business Administration works with 
     each Federal agency to set their respective contracting goals 
     and publishes a scorecard to ensure that the total of all 
     Federal agency goals meets the required targets for the 
     Federal Government;
       (4) the Department has received among the highest scorecard 
     letter grades 10 years in a row and is the largest Federal 
     agency to have such a track record;
       (5) in virtually every segment of the economy of the United 
     States, including the homeland security community, there are 
     small businesses working to support the mission and playing a 
     critical role in delivering efficient and innovative 
     solutions to the acquisition needs of the Federal Government;
       (6) the Procurement Innovation Lab of the Department--
       (A) is aimed at experimenting with innovative acquisition 
     techniques across the Homeland Security Enterprise;
       (B) provides a forum to test new ideas, share lessons 
     learned, and promote best practices;
       (C) fosters cultural changes that promote innovation and 
     managed risk taking through a continuous cycle of testing, 
     obtaining feedback, sharing information, and retesting where 
     appropriate; and
       (D) aims to make the acquisition process more smooth and 
     innovative within the construct of the Federal Acquisition 
     Regulation for both the Federal Government and contractors; 
     and
       (7) despite progress in the adoption of new and better 
     business practices by many Federal agencies, the overall 
     adoption of modernized business practices and advanced 
     technologies across the Federal Government remains slow and 
     uneven.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
     Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy.
       (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs and the Committee on Small Business and 
     Entrepreneurship of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Homeland Security, the Committee on 
     Oversight and Reform, and the Committee on Small Business of 
     the House of Representatives.
       (3) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the Chief 
     Acquisition Officers Council established under section 1311 
     of title 41, United States Code.
       (4) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
     Department of Homeland Security.
       (5) Homeland security enterprise.--The term ``Homeland 
     Security Enterprise'' has the meaning given the term in 
     section 2211(h) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
     U.S.C. 661(h)).
       (6) Scorecard.--The term ``scorecard'' means the scorecard 
     described in section 868(b) of the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (15 U.S.C. 644 note).
       (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Homeland Security.
       (8) Small business.--The term ``small business'' means--
       (A) a qualified HUBZone small business concern, a small 
     business concern, a small business concern owned and 
     controlled by service-disabled veterans, or a small business 
     concern owned and controlled by women, as those terms are 
     defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
     632);
       (B) a small business concern owned and controlled by 
     socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, as 
     defined in section 8(d)(3)(C) of the Small Business Act (15 
     U.S.C. 637(d)(3)(C)); or
       (C) a small business concern unconditionally owned by an 
     economically disadvantaged Indian tribe or an economically 
     disadvantaged Native Hawaiian organization that qualifies as 
     a socially and economically disadvantaged small business 
     concern, as defined in section 8(a)(4) of the Small Business 
     Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)(4)).
       (9) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary'' means 
     the Under Secretary for Management of the Department.

     SEC. 4. PROCUREMENT INNOVATION LAB REPORT.

       (a) Report.--The Under Secretary shall publish an annual 
     report on a website of the Department on Procurement 
     Innovation Lab projects that have used innovative techniques 
     within the Department to accomplish--
       (1) improving or encouraging better competition;
       (2) reducing time to award;
       (3) cost savings;
       (4) better mission outcomes; or
       (5) meeting the goals for contracts awarded to small 
     business concerns under section 15(g) of the Small Business 
     Act (15 U.S.C. 644(g)).
       (b) Education.--The Under Secretary shall develop and 
     disseminate guidance and offer training for contracting 
     officers, contracting specialists, program managers, and 
     other personnel of the Department, as determined appropriate 
     by the Under Secretary, concerning when and how to use the 
     innovative procurement techniques of the Department.
       (c) Best Practices.--The Under Secretary shall share best 
     practices across the Department and make available to other 
     Federal agencies information to improve procurement methods 
     and training, as determined appropriate by the Under 
     Secretary.
       (d) Sunset.--This section shall cease to be effective on 
     the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this 
     Act.

     SEC. 5. COUNCIL.

       (a) Establishment.--Not later than 45 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall convene the 
     Council to examine best practices for acquisition innovation 
     in contracting in the Federal Government, including small 
     business contracting in accordance with the goals established 
     under section 15(g) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
     644(g)).
       (b) Working Group.--The Council may form a working group to 
     address the requirements of this section, which, if formed, 
     shall--
       (1) be chaired by the Administrator or a designee of the 
     Administrator; and
       (2) be composed of--
       (A) the Chief Procurement Officer of the Department;
       (B) Council members from--
       (i) the General Services Administration;
       (ii) the Department of Defense;
       (iii) the Department of the Treasury;
       (iv) the Department of Veterans Affairs;
       (v) the Department of Health and Human Services;
       (vi) the Small Business Administration; and
       (vii) such other Federal agencies as determined by the 
     chair of the Council from among Federal agencies that have 
     demonstrated significant, sustained progress using innovative 
     acquisition practices and technologies, including for small 
     business contracting, during each of the 3 years preceding 
     the date of enactment of this Act; and
       (C) other employees, as determined appropriate by the chair 
     of the Council, of Federal agencies with the requisite senior 
     experience to make recommendations to improve Federal agency 
     efficiency, effectiveness, and economy, including in 
     promoting small business contracting.
       (c) Duties of the Council.--The Council, or a working group 
     formed under subsection (b), shall--
       (1) convene not later than 90 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act and thereafter on a quarterly basis 
     until the Council submits the report required under 
     subsection (d)(1); and
       (2) conduct outreach with the workforce and the public in 
     meeting the requirements under subsection (d)(1).
       (d) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Council shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report that 
     describes--
       (A) innovative acquisition practices and applications of 
     technologies that have worked well in achieving better 
     procurement outcomes, including increased efficiency, 
     improved program outcomes, better customer experience, and 
     meeting or exceeding the goals under section 15(g) of the 
     Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(g)), and the reasons why 
     those practices have succeeded;
       (B) steps to identify and adopt transformational commercial 
     business practices, modernized data analytics, and advanced 
     technologies that allow decision making to occur in a more 
     friction-free buying environment and improve customer 
     experience; and

[[Page H316]]

       (C) any recommendations for statutory changes to accelerate 
     the adoption of innovative acquisition practices.
       (2) Briefing.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall brief the 
     appropriate congressional committees on the means by which 
     the findings and recommendations of the report have been 
     disseminated under paragraph (3).
       (3) Publication and dissemination of report findings.--To 
     promote more rapid adoption of acquisition best practices, 
     the Administrator shall--
       (A) publish the report required under paragraph (1) on the 
     website of the Office of Management and Budget and on the 
     Innovation Hub on the Acquisition Gateway or any successor 
     Government-wide site available for increasing awareness of 
     resources dedicated to procurement innovation; and
       (B) encourage the head of each Federal agency to maintain a 
     site on the website of the Federal agency for acquisition and 
     contracting professionals, program managers, members of the 
     public, and others as appropriate that is--
       (i) dedicated to acquisition innovation; and
       (ii) identifies--

       (I) resources, including the acquisition innovation 
     advocate and industry liaison of the Federal agency;
       (II) learning assets for the workforce, including the 
     findings and recommendations made in the report required 
     under paragraph (1);
       (III) events to build awareness and understanding of 
     innovation activities;
       (IV) award recognition programs and recent recipients; and
       (V) upcoming plans to leverage innovative practices and 
     technologies.

       (e) Experts.--In carrying out the duties of the Council 
     under this section, the Council is encouraged to consult with 
     governmental and nongovernmental experts.
       (f) Termination.--The duties of the Council as set forth in 
     this section shall terminate 30 days after the date on which 
     the Council conducts the briefing required under subsection 
     (d)(2).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) and the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. 
LaTurner) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 583, the Promoting Rigorous and 
Innovative Cost Efficiencies for Federal Procurement and Acquisitions 
Act, or the PRICE Act.
  This bipartisan bill was introduced by Chairman Gary Peters of the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, along with 
Senators Ernst and Carper. I commend them for their bipartisan 
leadership, as well as   Joe Neguse for leading the House companion 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, to meet its complex and critical missions in service of 
the American people, the Federal Government must ensure that its 
procurement practices make use of innovative approaches that maximize 
the ingenuity and opportunity of American small business.
  These small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and 
the breeding ground for cutting edge solutions that can be 
transformative in government operations. Recognizing that the 
Department of Homeland Security has been a leader in small business 
utilization, the PRICE Act requires it to publish an annual report on 
the projects of its Procurement Innovation Lab.
  Dedicated to improving the acquisition process within the construct 
of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, the lab is a proving ground for 
innovative ideas and a forum for developing and sharing lessons learned 
and best practices.
  Under the bill, the Department would be required to develop guidance 
and training on innovative procurement techniques for contracting and 
program management personnel, and to make these best practices 
available to other Federal agencies.
  The bill would also convene the Chief Acquisition Officers Council to 
examine and report on best practices in acquisition innovation in 
Federal contracting, including through small business engagement, which 
is vital to keeping our industrial base strong and vibrant.
  The report would include a review of the practices and technology 
applications with the greatest success in improving program outcomes, 
enhancing customer experience, and meeting the Federal Government's 
small business contracting goals. These goals cannot be a check-the-box 
exercise that provides opportunity to only a handful of companies. 
Rather, they must be about opening the doors of Federal contracting to 
as many small businesses as possible to expand our industrial base.
  The PRICE Act will pave the way for more cohesive and widespread 
adoption of modernized business practices and advanced technologies 
across the Federal Government. It also has the power to advance the 
goals of the Small Business Act by creating greater opportunity for 
small businesses.
  Mr. Speaker, for these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support this 
bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaTURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Federal procurement and acquisition process is often 
cumbersome, complex, and inefficient. Doing business with the Federal 
Government is expensive and time-consuming. In fact, many commercial 
vendors must hire staff who are responsible for understanding the 
Federal acquisition regulatory requirements just so they can do 
business with the government.
  For small businesses with fewer resources, this is an even greater 
challenge. In reality, most small businesses are struggling to survive 
in the Biden economy, let alone trying to navigate complex procurement 
processes and regulations.
  The Department of Homeland Security's Procurement Innovation Lab has 
issued reports stressing the need for innovative approaches to making 
Federal procurement more effective and efficient. Thankfully, the PRICE 
Act will help put those insights into action.
  The PRICE Act requires DHS to develop department-wide guidance and 
training to improve procurement methods. These procurement best 
practices, which encourage reducing the time to award contracts, 
achieving cost savings, and better serving agency mission outcomes will 
be shared with other Federal agencies via a report.
  Also under the PRICE Act, the Office of Management and Budget will 
convene a working group within the Chief Acquisition Officers Council 
to identify and disseminate government-wide best practices to modernize 
Federal contracting. Such best practices will focus on better utilizing 
small businesses, increasing procurement efficiency, improving program 
outcomes, and achieving a better customer experience at agencies.
  The working group will provide its recommendations to Congress, which 
will help us identify and pursue smart procurement policy reforms. This 
is critical to ensure our Nation's Federal agencies can efficiently 
purchase the best products and services to serve the American people.
  Mr. Speaker, this is not a Big Government bill. It is a big idea 
bill. The PRICE Act does not mandate that the Government employ certain 
approaches. Rather, through reporting requirements, it will equip 
Federal agencies with innovative acquisition practices. It will develop 
best practices to improve procurement methods across the government and 
the PRICE Act will help small businesses conduct business within the 
government.
  This bill does not establish permanent programs or requirements but 
simply requires key Federal entities to conduct careful study and 
distribute the resulting recommendations government-wide and to 
Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of S. 583, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, S. 583.
  The question was taken.

[[Page H317]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

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