I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1577 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the procurement practices 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 6, 2019 
Mr. WITTMAN (for himself, Mrs. HARTZLER, and Mr. BERGMAN) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the 
procurement practices of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘VA Procurement Effi-
ciency and Transparency Act’’. 
SEC. 2. INFORMATION ON COST OR PRICE SAVINGS FROM 
COMPETITION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 81 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 8128 
the following new section: 
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‘‘§ 8129. Information on cost or price savings from 
competition 
‘‘(a) RECORDING OF INFORMATION.—With respect to 
any contract awarded by the Secretary that is reported 
in the Federal Procurement Data System described in sec-
tion 1122(a)(4)(A) of title 41, United States Code, or any 
successor system, the Secretary shall record information 
on the amount of any cost or price savings realized by 
using competitive procedures in awarding such contract. 
‘‘(b) PLACEMENT OF RECORDS.—The Secretary shall 
place recorded information under subsection (a) as follows: 
‘‘(1) With respect to contracts recorded in the 
Electronic Contract Management System, or any 
successor system, in such system. 
‘‘(2) With respect to contracts not covered by 
paragraph (1), in a location determined appropriate 
by the Secretary. 
‘‘(c) CALCULATION OF COST SAVINGS.—(1) In car-
rying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall calculate the 
amount of cost or price savings realized by using competi-
tive procedures in awarding a contract by— 
‘‘(A) subtracting the total value of the selected 
offer or quote from the average of the total values 
of all offers or quotes evaluated; or 
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‘‘(B) subtracting the total value of the selected 
offer or quote from the total value of the median 
offer or quote evaluated. 
‘‘(2) If the difference calculated pursuant to para-
graph (1) is negative, the Secretary shall record such dif-
ference as zero. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall make calculations under 
paragraph (1) with respect to a contract— 
‘‘(A) at the time at which the Secretary obli-
gates amounts under such contract; or 
‘‘(B) if such contract contains options, at the 
time at which the option is exercised.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 8128 the following new 
item: 
‘‘8129. Information on cost or price savings from competition.’’. 
SEC. 3. USE OF STANDARDIZED PROCUREMENT TEM-
PLATES. 
To the extent practicable, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall make available and use on a Department- 
wide basis the standardized procurement templates used 
by the Central Office of the Department, the Veterans 
Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administra-
tion, and the National Cemetery Administration. In car-
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rying out this section, the Secretary may customize such 
templates to address particular procurement situations. 
Æ 
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