[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6812]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF THE CONSTRUCTION QUALITY ASSURANCE ACT OF 2011

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                        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 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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