(2) TECHNICAL
AND
CONFORMING
AMEND-
MENT.—The table of sections for chapter 5 of title
5, United States Code, is amended by striking the
item relating to section 582.
(c) FEDERAL MEDIATION AND CONCILIATION SERV-
ICE.—Section 203(f) of the Labor Management Relations
Act, 1947 (29 U.S.C. 173(f)) is amended by striking ‘‘the
Administrative Conference of the United States and’’.
SEC. 5. AMENDMENTS TO SUPPORT SERVICE PROVISION.
Section 583 of title 5, United States Code, is amend-
ed by inserting ‘‘State, local, and tribal governments,’’
after ‘‘other Federal agencies,’’.
SEC. 6. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONTRACT DISPUTES ACT.
Section 6 of the Contract Disputes Act of 1978 (41
U.S.C. 605) is amended—
(1) in subsection (d) by striking the second sen-
tence and inserting: ‘‘The contractor shall certify the
claim when required to do so as provided under sub-
section (c)(1) or as otherwise required by law.’’; and
(2) in subsection (e) by striking the first sen-
tence.
SEC. 7. AMENDMENTS ON ACQUIRING NEUTRALS.
(a) EXPEDITED HIRING OF NEUTRALS.—
(1) COMPETITIVE REQUIREMENTS IN DEFENSE
AGENCY CONTRACTS.—Section 2304(c)(3)(C) of title
10, United States Code, is amended by striking
‘‘agency, or’’ and inserting ‘‘agency, or to procure
the services of an expert or neutral for use’’.
(2) COMPETITIVE REQUIREMENTS IN FEDERAL
CONTRACTS.—Section 303(c)(3)(C) of the Federal
Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949
(41 U.S.C. 253(c)(3)(C)), is amended by striking
‘‘agency, or’’ and inserting ‘‘agency, or to procure
the services of an expert or neutral for use’’.
(b) REFERENCES
TO
THE ADMINISTRATIVE CON-
FERENCE OF THE UNITED STATES.—Section 573 of title
5, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the
following:
‘‘(c) In consultation with other appropriate Federal
agencies and professional organizations experienced in
matters concerning dispute resolution, the Federal Medi-
ation and Conciliation Service shall—
‘‘(1) encourage and facilitate agency use of al-
ternative means of dispute resolution; and
‘‘(2) develop procedures that permit agencies to
obtain the services of neutrals on an expedited
basis.’’; and
(2) in subsection (e) by striking ‘‘on a roster es-
tablished under subsection (c)(2) or a roster main-
tained by other public or private organizations, or
individual’’.
SEC. 8. PERMANENT AUTHORIZATION OF THE ALTER-
NATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROVISIONS
OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE.
The Administrative Dispute Resolution Act (Public
Law 101–552; 104 Stat. 2747; 5 U.S.C. 581 note) is
amended by striking section 11.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter IV of chapter 5 of
title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the
end thereof the following new section:
‘‘§ 584. Authorization of appropriations
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated such sums
as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this sub-
chapter.’’.
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—
The table of sections for chapter 5 of title 5, United States
Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 583 the following:
‘‘584. Authorization of appropriations.’’.
Passed the House of Representatives June 4, 1996.
Attest:
Clerk.