CONTRACTS

Bills and resolutions

BLM: conduct study of legal and administrative steps needed to cancel contracts for the sale of Soledad Canyon, CA, mining contracts (see H.R. 6469), H6231 [20SE]

Buy American Week: designate (see H. Res. 705), H4064 [26JN]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: improve operations of recovery auditors under the Medicare Integrity Program to increase transparency and accuracy in audits conducted by contractors (see H.R. 6575), H6310 [16OC]

Davis-Bacon Act: repeal wage rate requirements (see H.R. 4403), H2029 [19AP]

Dept. of Defense: ensure sufficient sizing of civilian and contract services workforces (see S. 3617), S6625 [21SE]

——— prohibit use of private security contractors and Afghan Public Protection Force members to provide security for Armed Forces members and military installations and facilities in Afghanistan (see H.R. 4117), H1133 [1MR]

——— provide and implement insurance for workers on military bases outside the U.S. under a Government self-insurance program (see H.R. 5891), H3480 [5JN]

——— require contractors and subcontractors working on military construction projects to comply with licensing requirements for employees working at the project location (see H.R. 4184), H1304 [8MR]

Dept. of Homeland Security: contract with an independent laboratory to study health effects of backscatter x-ray machines used at airline checkpoints and improve notice to airline passengers (see S. 2044), S208 [31JA] (see H.R. 4068), H901 [16FE]

——— prohibit the procurement of certain items unless they are domestically grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced (see S. 2114), S699 [15FE]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: clarify contracting goals and preferences for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans (see H.R. 4048), H900 [16FE]

——— extend authority to enter into contracts with private physicians to conduct medical disability examinations (see H.R. 5880), H3362 [31MY]

——— give preference to veteran-owned local contractors (see H.R. 6004), H3974 [21JN]

——— modify treatment under contracting goals and preferences for small businesses owned by veterans of small businesses after the death of a disabled veteran owner (see S. 3210), S3329 [21MY]

——— treat small businesses bequeathed to family by Armed Forces members killed in the line of duty as owned and controlled by veterans for contracting goals and preferences (see S. 3405), S5211 [19JY]

Depts. of Defense and Homeland Security: prohibit purchase of equipment or military aircraft containing electronic components not manufactured in the U.S. (see H.R. 6277), H5704 [2AU]

Depts. of the Interior and Agriculture: extend stewardship end result contracting authority for projects to improve land management and reduce fire hazards in national forests (see H.R. 4396), H1977 [18AP]

Education: prohibit institutions of higher education that participate in certain financial aid programs from including predispute arbitration agreements in enrollment contracts (see S. 3557), S6454 [19SE]

Employment: exclude employment contracts and employment disputes from arbitration (see H.R. 4181), H1304 [8MR]

——— require Federal contractors and other recipients of Federal funds to participate in the E-Verify Program for employment eligibility verification and permanently reauthorize the E-Verify Program (see H.R. 6112), H4862 [12JY]

Federal agencies and departments: grant authority to enter into contracts with private sector for property management (see H.R. 6264), H5629 [1AU]

——— hold accountable agencies that fail to meet goals on participation of small business concerns in procurement contracts and authorize preferential treatment of such concerns (see H.R. 3779), H77 [18JA]

——— permit agencies to count certain contracts toward certain small business contracting goals (see H.R. 5829), H3161 [18MY]

——— prohibit purchase of merchandise subject to antidumping or countervailing duty orders (see S. 3611), S6625 [21SE]

——— report to Congress about refusal to implement certain recommendations for reimbursement by inefficient or wasteful Afghanistan reconstruction contractors (see S. 3505), S5977 [2AU]

Federal contracts: require solicitations for Federal procurement contracts to include information about the Buy American Act and whether foreign goods may be used to fulfill requirements of the contracts (see H.R. 4047), H801 [15FE]

Firefighters: implement updated pay and personnel policies to improve recruitment and retention of qualified Federal wildland firefighters to reduce reliance on non-Federal wildfire resources (see H.R. 6092), H4774 [10JY]

Forest Service: allow award of certain contracts for large air tankers (see S. 3261), S3688 [4JN]

Forests: improve response to insect infestations and forest diseases, change the Healthy Forests Reserve Program funding source, codify stewardship end result contracting, and improve post fire rehabilitation (see H.R. 5960), H3806 [19JN]

GAO: include in annual report to Congress a list of the most common grounds for sustaining protests relative to bids for contracts (see S. 3690), S8203 [19DE]

Health care facilities: invalidate pre-dispute arbitration agreements between long-term nursing care facilities and residents of such facilities (see H.R. 6351), H5707 [2AU]

Human rights: prevent human trafficking in Government contracting (see S. 2234), S2030 [26MR] (see H.R. 4259), H1570 [26MR]

Income: implement controls on salaries of Government contractors by limiting reimbursement for excessive compensation equal to the pay of the President of the U.S. (see S. 2198), S1734 [15MR]

Labor unions: clarify the illegality of the use of violence to achieve objectives during a strike (see S. 3178), S3174 [15MY] (see H.R. 4074), H943 [17FE]

Medicare: repeal certain changes to contracts with Medicare Quality Improvement Organizations (see S. 3659), S7458 [5DE] (see H.R. 5942), H3699 [8JN]

National Labor Relations Act: propose debarment from contracting with the Federal Government of persons violating such Act (see H.R. 6668), H6806 [13DE]

SBA: consolidate and revise guidelines relative to contract bundling (see H.R. 4081), H943 [17FE]

——— expand the HUBZone program for communities affected by defense base realignment and closure (see S. 3675), S7976 [12DE]

——— improve the procurement program for women-owned small business concerns (see H.R. 4203), H1390 [19MR]

——— increase small business participation in multiple award contracts (see H.R. 4118), H1133 [1MR]

——— modify small business concern size standards (see H.R. 3987), H640 [8FE]

——— provide for a program to provide Federal contracts to early-stage small businesses (see H.R. 4121), H1133 [1MR]

——— reform role of procurement center representatives in the Federal contracting acquisition process (see H.R. 3980), H640 [8FE]

——— remove limit on anticipated award price for contracts awarded under the procurement program for women-owned small business concerns and identify industries in which women are underrepresented (see S. 2172), S1459 [7MR]

Small business: empower Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization at Federal agencies to better advocate on behalf of small businesses in the contracting process (see H.R. 3851), H218 [31JA]

——— improve operation of mentor-protege programs involving small contractors (see H.R. 3985), H640 [8FE]

——— increase penalties for contracting fraud (see H.R. 4206), H1390 [19MR]

——— modify goals for procurement contracts awarded to small business concerns (see S. 3213), S3422 [22MY] (see H.R. 3850), H218 [31JA]

——— provide certainty for small business concerns (see S. 3572), S6454 [19SE]

——— provide for higher goals for procurement contracts awarded to small business concerns (see H.R. 6078), H4655 [29JN]

——— provide tax incentives for small businesses and improve SBA programs (see S. 3442), S5381 [25JY]

——— reform limits and increase Federal subcontracting opportunities, require agencies to publish insourcing processes, and provide opportunities to challenge insourcing decisions (see H.R. 3893), H440 [2FE]

Taxation: allow partial exclusion for foreign earned income of employees of Federal contractors who do not fulfill foreign country residency requirements for certain reasons (see H.R. 6341), H5706 [2AU]

——— clarify tax treatment of certain life insurance contract transactions (see S. 2048), S208 [31JA]

——— encourage domestic insourcing and discourage foreign outsourcing (see H.R. 5542), H2441 [8MY] (see H.R. 6152), H5077 [19JY]

U.S. Code: improve enactment of certain laws relative to public contracts (see H.R. 6080), H4684 [9JY]

Veterans: improve protection and enforcement of employment and reemployment rights of members of the uniformed services (see S. 3236), S3630 [24MY]

War: enhance security, increase accountability, and improve Federal contracting for overseas contingency operations (see S. 2139), S1147 [29FE] (see S. 3286), S3976 [12JN]

——— increase accountability in contracts for overseas contingency operations (see H.R. 6360), H5727 [7AU]

Whistleblowing: expand whistleblower protections to non-Federal employees whose disclosures involve misuse of Federal funds (see H.R. 6406), H6000 [13SE]

Letters

Dept. of Defense to end contracts with Rosoboronexport (company) relative to role in arms sales to Syria: several Senators, S1697 [15MR]

FEMA process for Federal reimbursement of State and local emergency response activities: Barry Kasinitz, International Association of Fire Fighters, S8430 [27DE]

——— Hank C. Clemmensen, International Association of Fire Chiefs, S8430 [27DE]

SBA HUBZone program expansion for communities affected by defense base realignment and closure: Heather D. Blease, Savi Systems, LLC., S7980 [12DE]

——— Patrick M. Murdock, Associaton of Defense Communities, S7979 [12DE]

——— Steven H. Levesque, Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, S7979 [12DE]

Lists

Organizations supporting Bartlett amendment on project labor agreement status in construction contracts to H.R. 4310, Dept. of Defense appropriations for military activities, prescribing personnel strengths, and military construction, E841 [17MY]

Memorandums

Congressional Authority To Alter Postal Service Employee-Management Relations Including Collective Bargaining Agreements: Congressional Research Service, S2633 [24AP]

Remarks in House

Afghanistan: ensure funds provided for Armed Forces operations are only used for safe and orderly withdrawal of U.S. military forces and Dept. of Defense contractors, H2824, H2830, H3011–H3014 [17MY], H5028, H5029 [19JY]

Bureau of Reclamation: management of Lake Berryessa in California relative to concession bidding process, H3354, H3355 [31MY]

Business and industry: advantages of foreign outsourcing, H4159 [28JN]

California: clarify duration of Central Valley Project renewal contracts, H1061, H1062 [29FE]

——— clarify jurisdiction over Central Valley Project renewal contracts, H1066, H1067 [29FE]

——— eliminate water subsidies for irrigators and require new contracts charge interest for water delivery and project debt repayments, H1068, H1069 [29FE]

Civilian Property Realignment Commission: provide assistance to small, minority, and woman-owned businesses seeking to be awarded contracts to redevelop Federal property, H500–H502 [6FE]

Davis-Bacon Act: repeal wage rate requirements (H.R. 4403), H2045 [24AP]

Dept. of Defense: conduct outreach program to benefit women- and minority-owned small businesses prior to conversion of functions from civilian employees to contractors, H2837, H3066 [17MY]

——— end contracts with Rosoboronexport (company) relative to role in arms sales to Syria, H5038–H5040 [19JY], E1298 [23JY]

——— ensure competition in Government service contracts and remove restrictions which prohibit contracting certain commercial products or services, H3050, H3051 [17MY], H4970, H4971 [18JY]

——— limit salaries of contractor executives, H5042, H5043 [19JY]

——— prohibit discrimination based on project labor agreement status in awarding of construction contracts, H3017–H3019 [17MY]

——— prohibit foreign businesses that engage in business activity with terrorist nations from contracting and procurement opportunities, H3064 [17MY]

——— prohibit funding to enforce wage rate requirements for contracts under the Davis-Bacon Act, H4995, H4996 [18JY]

——— prohibit funding to enter into contracts with entities having been convicted of fraud against the Federal Government, H5060, H5061 [19JY]

——— prohibit funding to enter into non-competitive contracts for helicopter leak-proof drip pans, H4991 [18JY]

——— Rapid Innovation Fund funding, H4964, H4965 [18JY]

——— require Federal contractors to disclose political contributions, H5058 [19JY]

——— small business contracting reforms, E1992 [21DE]

——— small business contracting reforms funding, H2792 [16MY]

Dept. of Homeland Security: prohibit funding for procurement of certain items unless they are domestically grown or produced, H3502 [6JN]

Dept. of Justice: allow private sector competition for performance of commercial activities within the Bureau of Prisons, H2406 [8MY]

Dept. of Transportation: Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program funding, H4623 [29JN]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: permit Office of Inspector General to review practices relative to collection and content of bids for certain veterans’ hospital construction projects, H3326, H3327 [31MY]

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies: allow use of project labor agreements for Federal construction projects, H3285, H3315, H3316, H3331–H3339 [31MY], E957, E965 [1JN], E1024 [7JN]

——— prohibit funding to enforce wage rate requirements for contracts under the Davis-Bacon Act, H3345, H3346 [31MY]

Depts. of Defense and Homeland Security: prohibit purchase of equipment or military aircraft containing electronic components not manufactured in the U.S. (H.R. 6277), E1396 [3AU]

FDA: develop uniform Federal standards for third party logistics providers to ensure safety and security in the delivery of pharmaceuticals, H3227, H3230 [30MY]

Federal contracts: allow contracting officers to consider information regarding domestic employment before awarding a Federal contract, H3006 [17MY]

Federal employees: allow contractors to perform certain activities currently performed by Federal employees, H2416, H2417 [8MY]

Forest Service: allow award of certain contracts for large air tankers (S. 3261), H3691 [8JN]

GSA: ensure contracts are in compliance with workforce diversity rules, H1829 [16AP], H1854 [17AP]

Human rights: prevent human trafficking in Government contracting, H3135, H3136 [18MY]

Maritime Administration: prohibit exemption from Federal Acquisition Regulations and disposal of National Defense Reserve Fleet vessels using less than open and transparent competition, H3136 [18MY]

Mining and mineral resources: prohibit mineral exploration or mining permits to companies that have failed to pay taxes, have connections to Iran or China, or are outsourcing jobs, and require equipment be made in the U.S., H4852, H4853 [12JY]

Office of the Director of National Intelligence: report on improving methods of granting security clearances to subcontractors and notifying them of Federal classified contracting opportunities, H3298 [31MY]

Peabody Energy, Inc.: call for investigation into contracts with public power organizations to fund Prairie State Energy Campus in Marissa, IL, and impact on consumer electricity rates, H6161 [20SE], H6236 [21SE]

SBA: modify small business concern size standards, H2836 [17MY]

Science, Depts. of Justice and Commerce, and related agencies: exempt from certain requirements on the procurement and acquisition of alternative fuels, H2509, H2510 [9MY]

Small business: expand Federal contracting mentor-protege programs, H522 [7FE]

——— improve operation of mentor-protege programs involving small contractors, H2704 [15MY]

——— improve operation of mentor-protege programs involving small contractors (H.R. 3985), H816 [16FE]

Taxation: encourage domestic insourcing and discourage foreign outsourcing (H.R. 5542), H4722 [10JY]

——— provide Federal contracting preferences for, and a reduction in income tax rates on, patriot corporations (H.R. 1163), H203 [31JA]

Transportation: increase requirement for American-made content in transportation construction projects, H3795 [19JN]

Transportation Security Administration: prohibit funding to restrict participation in Screening Partnership Program (SPP), H3640 [7JN]

——— require private companies contracted to provide security screenings to be owned and controlled by U.S. citizens, H3644 [7JN]

U.S. Code: improve enactment of certain laws relative to public contracts (H.R. 6080), H5796–H5814 [11SE]

U.S. Office for Contingency Operations: establish, H3092 [17MY]

Veterans: prohibit funding to enter into contracts that do not give small businesses owned and controlled by veterans any available preference, H3134 [18MY], H3341, H3342 [31MY]

——— provide assistance to veterans and veteran-owned businesses with respect to contract opportunities, H5060 [19JY]

Remarks in Senate

Dept. of Defense: apply the Buy American Act to the procurement of photovoltaic devices, S7287 [30NO]

——— end contracts with Rosoboronexport (company) relative to role in arms sales to Syria, S1696, S1697 [15MR]

——— ensure sufficient sizing of civilian and contract services workforces, S7188 [29NO], S7281, S7282 [30NO]

——— small business contracting reforms, S7299 [30NO]

Dept. of HHS: contract with public relations firm for advertising campaign to promote preventive health benefits of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, S3467 [23MY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: treat small businesses bequeathed to family by Armed Forces members killed in the line of duty as owned and controlled by veterans for contracting goals and preferences (S. 3405), S5213 [19JY]

Disasters: provide regulatory relief for disaster victims and relief volunteers, S8474 [28DE]

FDA: develop uniform Federal standards for third party logistics providers to ensure safety and security in the delivery of pharmaceuticals, S3414 [22MY]

Federal agencies and departments: grant authority to implement rule to improve Federal permitting and review process of infrastructure projects, S2144 [28MR]

——— prohibit purchase of merchandise subject to antidumping or countervailing duty orders (S. 3611), S6629 [21SE]

——— require merit-based and competitive awards of disaster recovery contracts, S8432, S8434, S8439, S8441 [27DE], S8467, S8468 [28DE]

FEMA: clarify process for Federal reimbursement of State and local emergency response activities, S8430 [27DE]

Forest Service: allow award of certain contracts for large air tankers (S. 3261), S3720 [5JN], S3870, S3871 [7JN]

Human rights: prevent human trafficking in Government contracting, S7153, S7154, S7205 [29NO], S7699 [10DE]

Hurricanes: provide for nonapplication of wage rate requirements for contracts under the Davis-Bacon Act for Hurricane Sandy relief and recovery projects, S8469, S8470 [28DE]

Iran: prohibit foreign subsidiaries of U.S. companies to continue doing business with Iran without facing penalties, S5862 [1AU]

Political campaigns: prohibit foreign influence, prevent Federal contractors from making expenditures, and establish additional spending disclosure requirements relative to Federal elections, S100, S101, S104, S109, S110 [26JA]

Postal Service: renegotiation of current collective bargaining agreements, S2632–S2634 [24AP]

SBA: expand the HUBZone program for communities affected by defense base realignment and closure (S. 3675), S7979, S7980 [12DE]

——— reinstate increase in surety bond guarantee limits, S4927 [12JY], S8429 [27DE]

——— remove limit on anticipated award price for contracts awarded under the procurement program for women-owned small business concerns, S7203 [29NO]

Small business: modify goals for procurement contracts awarded to small business concerns (S. 3213), S3392 [22MY]

——— provide certainty for small business concerns (S. 3572), S6461 [19SE]

——— provide tax incentives for small businesses and improve SBA programs (S. 3442), S5386–S5390 [25JY]

Transportation: increase requirement for American-made content in transportation construction projects, S1440 [7MR], S1602, S1608 [13MR]

——— maintain competitive market by ensuring equal treatment of contract rail operators, S1536 [8MR]

War: enhance security, increase accountability, and improve Federal contracting for overseas contingency operations, S7205 [29NO]

Reports filed

Building Better Business Partnerships Act: Committee on Small Business (House) (H.R. 3985) (H. Rept. 112–723), H7429 [21DE]

Contracting Oversight for Small Business Jobs Act: Committee on Small Business (House) (H.R. 4206) (H. Rept. 112–728), H7429 [21DE]

Contractor Opportunity Protection Act: Committee on Small Business (House) (H.R. 4081) (H. Rept. 112–725), H7429 [21DE]

Early Stage Small Business Contracting Act: Committee on Small Business (House) (H.R. 4121) (H. Rept. 112–727), H7429 [21DE]

End Trafficking in Government Contracting Act: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (S. 2234), S8203 [19DE]

Government Efficiency Through Small Business Contracting Act: Committee on Small Business (House) (H.R. 3850) (H. Rept. 112–720), H7429 [21DE]

Improve Enactment of Certain Laws Relative to Public Contracts: Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 6080) (H. Rept. 112–662), H5764 [10SE]

Inquiry Into Counterfeit Electronic Parts in the Dept. of Defense Supply Chain: Committee on Armed Services (Senate) (S. Rept. 112–167), S3329 [21MY]

Keeping Politics Out of Federal Contracting Act: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (S. 1100), S8203 [19DE]

——— Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (House) (H.R. 2008) (H. Rept. 112–536), H3706 [15JN]

Non-Federal Employee Whistleblower Protection Act: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (S. 241), S8203 [19DE]

Small Business Advocate Act: Committee on Small Business (House) (H.R. 3851) (H. Rept. 112–721), H7429 [21DE]

Small Business Opportunity Act: Committee on Small Business (House) (H.R. 3980) (H. Rept. 112–722), H7429 [21DE]

Small Business Procurement Improvement Act: Committee on Small Business (House) (H.R. 4118) (H. Rept. 112–726), H7429 [21DE]

Small Business Protection Act: Committee on Small Business (House) (H.R. 3987) (H. Rept. 112–724), H7429 [21DE]

Subcontracting Transparency and Reliability Act: Committee on Small Business (House) (H.R. 3893) (H. Rept. 112–731), H7435 [27DE]

Women’s Procurement Program Improvement Act: Committee on Small Business (House) (H.R. 4203) (H. Rept. 112–732), H7435 [27DE]

Resolutions by organizations

GSA Capital Investment and Leasing Program: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (House), H1307–H1359 [9MR], H5338–H5405 [31JY]

Texts of

H.R. 6080, improve enactment of certain laws relative to public contracts, H5796–H5814 [11SE]

S. 2172, Fairness in Women-Owned Small Business Contracting Act, S1462 [7MR]

S. 3261, allow Forest Service to award certain contracts for large air tankers, S3871 [7JN], H3691 [8JN]

S. 3442, Success Ultimately Comes from Capital, Contracting, Education, Strategic Partnerships, and Smart Regulations (SUCCESS) Act, S5390–S5401 [25JY]