[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 109 (Friday, June 6, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33950-33951]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-14341]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[2003-N01]


Integrated Acquisition Environment Pilot; Posting Awarded 
Contracts on the Worldwide Web

AGENCY: The Integrated Acquisition Environment (IAE) Program Office, 
GSA.

[[Page 33951]]


ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Integrated Acquisition Environment (IAE) program office, 
which is responsible for improving Federal acquisition processes 
through reliance on a technology-based integrated infrastructure, is 
initiating a pilot to begin making Federal contracts available to the 
general public on the worldwide web (web). This pilot effort is 
intended to increase transparency in agency acquisition activities and 
further the Administration's global vision of a citizen-centric E-
Government. The IAE program office seeks public comment to help in 
identifying priorities for the pilot's implementation.

DATES: Interested parties should submit comments to the Regulatory 
Secretariat at the address shown below on or before August 5, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to--General Services Administration, 
Regulatory Secretariat (MVA), 1800 F Street, NW., Room 4035, ATTN: 
Laurie Duarte, Washington, DC 20405.
    Submit electronic comments via the Internet to--Notice.2003-
[email protected].
    Please submit comments only and cite Notice 2003-N01 in all 
correspondence related to this case.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Teresa Sorrenti, Project Manager, 
Integrated Acquisition E-Gov Initiative, by phone at (703) 872-8610 or 
by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
and the IAE program office seek to promote greater transparency in 
Government contracting through the effective use of technology. 
Transparency fosters public confidence in the Government's procurement 
processes and the critical missions they support.
    The Government has taken, and continues to take, important steps to 
leverage Federal information technology investments and increase 
transparency in ways that help Federal buyers to achieve better 
results. For example:
    [sbull] FedBizOpps (http://www.fedbizopps.gov) enables vendors and 
other interested members of the public to easily acclimate themselves 
with the planned procurements of departments and agencies across the 
executive branch. This gateway hosts a wide variety of business 
documents, such as notices, solicitations, and other related 
acquisition information, that vendors need to bid on and negotiate 
contracts with agencies. The transparency FedBizOpps provides helps to 
reduce vendor transaction costs. This, in turn, generates competition 
to lower cost and improve quality in purchases for taxpayers.
    [sbull] The interagency contract directory (http://www.contractdirectory.gov), which will be rolled out later this year, 
will provide general information to agencies and the public about 
awarded contracts that are available to satisfy the needs of other 
Federal agencies. Information in the directory will be made available 
in a standardized format to facilitate market research and help agency 
managers rationalize contracting efforts.
    [sbull] The Federal Procurement Data System--Next Generation (FPDS-
NG) will entirely transform how information about acquisition 
activities is captured. As this new management information system is 
phased in over the next two years, agencies and the public will enjoy 
faster and wider access to transactional information as well as real-
time web-based reporting.
    Several public interest groups have requested that agencies make 
contracts available online. These groups believe this type of 
transparency will facilitate constructive dialogue to promote model 
contracting, improve weak practices, and reduce repetitive requests 
under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for contracts that are of 
particular interest to the public. While a limited amount of 
information about awarded contracts is available today through FPDS and 
FedBizOpps, Federal contracts are not routinely posted on the web.
    In light of the public interest in having contracts posted and the 
benefits derived through improved transparency in acquisition 
generally, the IAE program office is initiating a project to pilot the 
online posting of Federal contracts. The IAE program office intends to 
scope the pilot in a manner that is both (1) responsive to the 
interests of our taxpayers, and (2) reasonable in light of potential 
costs and burden associated with this effort and the capabilities of 
technology currently employed by the Government. This scope may be 
modified based on the success of initial pilot efforts and future 
enhancements to the Government's technology infrastructure. It may also 
be re-scoped to include grants. Irrespective of how the pilot is 
structured, any proprietary information contained in a contract covered 
by the pilot would be redacted before posting.
    The program office welcomes the public's comments in helping to 
identify priorities for implementing the pilot. Comments are especially 
welcome on the following issues:
    1. Scope and availability. What parameters (factors) should guide 
the initial shape of the pilot (e.g., size or type of contract; amount 
of competition sought; product or service purchased; awards related to 
specific Federal programs)? How long should contracts remain available 
after they have been posted?
    2. Guidance. What, if any, type of guidance may be beneficial to 
ensure posting is consistent with applicable laws and regulations 
(e.g., is there a need for guidance to address the redaction of 
proprietary information, the identification of contracts whose 
disclosure would compromise the national security, or the application 
of FOIA generally)?

    Dated: June 3, 2003.
David A. Drabkin,
Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Acquisition Policy.
[FR Doc. 03-14341 Filed 6-5-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-61-P