Contracting and Tax Accountability Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-882
Sponsor: Rep. Chaffetz, Jason [R-UT-3]
Introduced: 2013-02-28 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Debt collection
Public contracts and procurement
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2013-02-28
text: 
Contracting and Tax Accountability Act of 2013 - Requires the head of any executive agency that issues an invitation for bids or a request for proposals for a contract, or that offers a grant, in an amount greater than the simplified acquisition threshold to require each person submitting a bid or proposal or grant application to: (1) certify that such person does not have a seriously delinquent tax debt, and (2) authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to disclose information limited to describing whether such person has a seriously delinquent tax debt. Subjects a person who has a seriously delinquent tax debt to a negative responsibility determination when applying for a federal contract or grant, or to debarment from the federal procurement process.
 
Defines "seriously delinquent tax debt" as an outstanding tax debt for which a notice of lien has been filed in public records. Exempts from such definition: (1) tax debts that are being paid in a timely manner under an approved installment agreement, and (2) debts for which a collection due process hearing has been requested or is pending. 

action_date: 2013-04-12
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 
Contracting and Tax Accountability Act of 2013 - (Sec. 2) States that it is the policy of the U.S. government that no government contracts or grants should be awarded to individuals or business entities with seriously delinquent federal tax debts. 
 
(Sec. 3) Requires the head of any executive agency that issues an invitation for bids or a request for proposals for a contract in an amount greater than the simplified acquisition threshold (i.e., $150,000) to require each person submitting a bid or proposal to: (1) certify that such person does not have a seriously delinquent tax debt, and (2) authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to disclose information limited to describing whether such person has a seriously delinquent tax debt.
 
Requires the head of any executive agency: (1) in evaluating any offer received in response to an agency solicitation for bids or proposals for a contract, to consider a certification that the offeror has a seriously delinquent tax debt to be definitive proof that the offeror is not a responsible source to do business with the federal government; and (2) to propose an offeror or a grant applicant for debarment after receiving an offer for a contract or grant application that contains a certification that such person has a seriously delinquent tax debt, or after receiving information from the Secretary that a submitted certification is false. Allows a waiver of such debarment requirement if an agency head certifies in writing urgent and compelling circumstances significantly affecting the interests of the United States.
 
(Sec. 4) Requires the head of any executive agency that offers a grant in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold amount to require each grant applicant to: (1) certify that the applicant does not have a seriously delinquent tax debt, and (2) authorize the Secretary to disclose information limited to describing whether such a applicant has a seriously delinquent tax debt. Requires the agency head, in evaluating a grant application, to consider a certification that the grant applicant has a seriously delinquent tax debt to be definitive proof that the applicant is high-risk, requiring enhanced oversight. 
 
Requires the revision of the Federal Acquisition Regulation to incorporate requirements set forth in this Act relating to responsibility determinations and debarment for offerors or grant applicants. 
 
(Sec. 5) Defines "seriously delinquent tax debt" as an outstanding tax debt for which a notice of lien has been filed in public records. Exempts from such definition: (1) tax debts that are being paid in a timely manner under an approved installment agreement, and (2) debts for which a collection due process hearing has been requested or is pending.
 
(Sec. 6) Makes this Act applicable to contracts and grants awarded on or after 270 days after its enactment. 

action_date: 2013-04-15
text: 
Contracting and Tax Accountability Act of 2013 - (Sec. 2) States that it is the policy of the U.S. government that no government contracts or grants should be awarded to individuals or business entities with seriously delinquent federal tax debts. 
 
(Sec. 3) Requires the head of any executive agency that issues an invitation for bids or a request for proposals for a contract in an amount greater than the simplified acquisition threshold (i.e., $150,000) to require each person submitting a bid or proposal to: (1) certify that such person does not have a seriously delinquent tax debt, and (2) authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to disclose information limited to describing whether such person has a seriously delinquent tax debt.
 
Requires the head of any executive agency: (1) in evaluating any offer received in response to an agency solicitation for bids or proposals for a contract, to consider a certification that the offeror has a seriously delinquent tax debt to be definitive proof that the offeror is not a responsible source to do business with the federal government; and (2) to initiate a suspension or debarment proceeding against an offeror or a grant applicant after receiving an offer for a contract or grant application that contains a certification that such person has a seriously delinquent tax debt, or after receiving information from the Secretary that a submitted certification is false. Allows a waiver of such debarment requirement if an agency head certifies in writing urgent and compelling circumstances significantly affecting the interests of the United States.
 
(Sec. 4) Requires the head of any executive agency that offers a grant in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold amount to require each grant applicant to: (1) certify that the applicant does not have a seriously delinquent tax debt, and (2) authorize the Secretary to disclose information limited to describing whether such a applicant has a seriously delinquent tax debt. Requires the agency head, in evaluating a grant application, to consider a certification that the grant applicant has a seriously delinquent tax debt to be definitive proof that the applicant is high-risk, requiring enhanced oversight. 
 
Requires the revision of the Federal Acquisition Regulation to incorporate requirements set forth in this Act relating to responsibility determinations and debarment for offerors or grant applicants. 
 
(Sec. 5) Defines "seriously delinquent tax debt" as an outstanding federal tax debt for which a notice of lien has been filed in public records. Exempts from such definition: (1) tax debts that are being paid in a timely manner under an approved installment agreement, and (2) debts for which a collection due process hearing has been requested or is pending.
 
(Sec. 6) Makes this Act applicable to contracts and grants awarded on or after 270 days after its enactment. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-04-16
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2013-04-15
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2013-04-15
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): 407 - 0 (Roll No. 104). (text: CR H2001-2002)
action_date: 2013-04-15
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): 407 - 0 (Roll No. 104).(text: CR H2001-2002)
action_date: 2013-04-15
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2011-2012)
action_date: 2013-04-15
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2013-04-15
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 882.
action_date: 2013-04-15
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2001-2004)
action_date: 2013-04-15
text: Mr. Issa moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2013-04-12
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 21.
action_date: 2013-04-12
text: Reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 113-35.
action_date: 2013-04-12
text: Reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 113-35.
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2013-02-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2013-02-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-02-28
text: Introduced in House