Keeping Politics Out of Federal Contracting Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1100
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2011-05-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Political advertising
Political parties and affiliation
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: 
Keeping Politics Out of Federal Contracting Act of 2011 - Prohibits the head of an executive agency from: (1) requiring a contractor to submit political information as part of a soliticitation, request for bid, request for proposal, or any other communiction in connection with the award of a contract for procurement of property or services or during the course of the contract performance until the completion of a contract; (2) using such political information as a factor or consideration in the source selection process used to award a competitive or non-competitive contract; or (3) including such political information in a contracting past performance database. Defines "political information" as information relating to political spending, including any payment for an electioneering communication, by a contractor or persons related to such contractor to a candidate for federal office, a political commitee, a political party, or to a third party entity for political purposes. 

action_date: 2012-12-19
text: 
Keeping Politics Out of Federal Contracting Act of 2011 - Prohibits the head of an executive agency from: (1) requiring a contractor to submit political information as part of a solicitation, request for bid, request for proposal, or any other communication in connection with the award of a contract for procurement of property or services, during the course of the contract performance, or at any time prior to contract completion and final contract closeout; (2) using such political information as a factor or consideration in the source selection process used to award a competitive or non-competitive contract or in making any decision associated with the modification of a contract or the exercise of a contract option; or (3) including such political information in a contracting past performance database or any database designed to provide information to a contracting officer for purposes of supporting a responsibility determination. Defines "political information" as information relating to political spending, including any payment for an electioneering communication, by a contractor or persons related to such contractor to a candidate for federal office, a political committee, a political party, or to a third party entity for political purposes. 
 
Provides that nothing in this Act shall be construed as: (1) waiving, superseding, restricting, or limiting the application of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 or preventing federal regulatory or law enforcement agencies from collecting or receiving information authorized by law; or (2) precluding the Defense Contract Audit Agency or other auditor from assessing and reviewing information to identify unallowable costs and administering cost principles.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-12-19
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 570.
action_date: 2012-12-19
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman with an amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2012-12-19
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman with an amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3435-3436)
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Introduced in Senate