Oversight and Accountability in Wartime Contracting Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-6360
Sponsor: Rep. Tierney, John F. [D-MA-6]
Introduced: 2012-08-07 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Afghanistan
Asia
Business ethics
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Department of Defense
Department of State
District of Columbia
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal district courts
Foreign aid and international relief
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Income tax exclusion
Iraq
Jurisdiction and venue
Law enforcement officers
Middle East
Military operations and strategy
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Performance measurement
Public contracts and procurement
Reconstruction and stabilization
Service industries
Sex offenses
Taxation of foreign income
Telephone and wireless communication
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2012-08-07
text: 
Oversight and Accountability in Wartime Contracting Act of 2012 - Directs the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to: (1) limit contracts entered into in connection with an overseas contingency operation (OCO) to three years for competitively bid contracts and one year for non-competitively bid contracts and competitively bid contracts for which only one offer was received; (2) limit any contract for services in connection with an OCO to a single tier of subcontractors; and (3) require contractors, subcontractors, and related entities to consent to personal jurisdiction in covered civil actions (e.g., civil actions alleging rape or serious bodily injury, wrongful death, or breach of contract) involving overseas contracts valued at not less than $1 million. 
 
Requires the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to develop a strategy for ensuring that timely, accurate, and complete information on contractor performance is included in past performance databases used by executive agencies for making source selection decisions. 
 
Requires the Secretaries of Defense (DOD) and State, and the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to certify to specified congressional committees that a country for which funds have been appropriated for a capital project with an estimated value in excess of $1 million has the capability (in both financial and human resources) to effectively maintain and utilize the project.
 
Establishes offices to oversee contingency contracting in DOD, the Department of State, and USAID.
 
Requires the Inspectors General of DOD, the Department of State, and USAID to review and evaluate noncompetitive contracts and one-offer contracts and to submit annual reports on such contracts to specified committees of Congress.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) exclude from the gross income of DOD civilian employees compensation for active service in a combat zone, and (2) allow such employees a reduced estate tax rate and an exemption from the excise tax on local and toll telephone service.
 
Directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with certain federal officials, to submit to specified congressional committees a report on the success of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan.
 
Extends through FY2013 the annual reporting requirement of the Secretary of Defense on the plan for sustaining Afghanistan security forces. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-08-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-08-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-08-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-08-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-08-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-08-07
text: Introduced in House