Saving Federal Dollars Through Better Use of Government Purchase and Travel Cards Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1616
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2015-06-18
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Fraud offenses and financial crimes

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Government ethics and transparency, public corruption

Government information and archives

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Public contracts and procurement

Transportation costs
Latest action: action_date: 2015-12-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-06-18
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Saving Federal Dollars Through Better Use of Government Purchase and Travel Cards Act of 2015</strong></p> <p>Requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to establish an Office of Federal Charge Card Analytics and Review (OFCCAR) for improving the use and oversight of purchase and travel card transactions by federal agencies and programs, including for purposes of: (1) identifying and preventing improper payments and other inappropriate use of purchase and travel cards that do not conform with federal or agency purchase laws, policies, rules, or best practices; and (2) determining opportunities for strategic sourcing (defined as analyzing and modifying a federal agency's spending patterns to better leverage its purchasing power, reduce costs, and improve overall performance).</p> <p>Makes the OFCCAR responsible for: (1) the review of purchase and travel card transaction data of all federal agencies, and (2) the establishment of a library of analytics tools and data sources for use by all federal agencies.</p> <p>Requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue guidance on improving information sharing by government agencies, including by: (1) requiring relevant officials at federal agencies to identify high-risk merchants and communicate that information to the appropriate level of administration within the agencies; (2) ensuring that appropriate officials at federal agencies review the reports issued by charge card-issuing contractors of potential fraudulent or otherwise inappropriate activity; and (3) providing for the appropriate sharing of information related to potential fraudulent transactions, fraud schemes, and high risk merchants with the OFCCAR and the appropriate federal officials.</p> <p>Requires the GSA and the OMB to establish an interagency task force to develop and share best practices, which shall: (1) cover rules, edits, and task order or contract modifications related to charge card-issuing contractors; and (2) include the review of purchase and travel card transaction data of all federal agencies for the purpose of determining strategic sourcing opportunities.</p>

action_date: 2015-12-08
action_desc: Reported to Senate without amendment
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)</p> <p><strong>Saving Federal Dollars Through Better Use of Government Purchase and Travel Cards Act of 2015</strong></p> <p>(Sec. 3) This bill requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to establish an Office of Federal Charge Card Analytics and Review (OFCCAR) for improving the use and oversight of purchase and travel card transactions by federal agencies and programs, including for purposes of: (1) identifying and preventing improper payments and other inappropriate use of purchase and travel cards that do not conform with federal or agency purchase laws, policies, rules, or best practices; and (2) determining opportunities for strategic sourcing (defined as analyzing and modifying a federal agency's spending patterns to better leverage its purchasing power, reduce costs, and improve overall performance).</p> <p>The OFCCAR is responsible for: (1) the review of purchase and travel card transaction data of all federal agencies, and (2) the establishment of a library of analytics tools and data sources for use by all federal agencies.</p> <p>(Sec. 4) The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) must issue guidance on improving information sharing by government agencies, including by: (1) requiring relevant officials at federal agencies to identify high-risk merchants and communicate that information to the appropriate level of administration within the agencies; (2) ensuring that appropriate officials at federal agencies review the reports issued by charge card-issuing contractors of potential fraudulent or otherwise inappropriate activity; and (3) providing for the appropriate sharing of information related to potential fraudulent transactions, fraud schemes, and high risk merchants with the OFCCAR and the appropriate federal officials.</p> <p>(Sec. 5) The GSA and the OMB must establish and co-chair an interagency task force to develop and share best practices, which shall: (1) cover rules, edits, and task order or contract modifications related to charge card-issuing contractors; and (2) include the review of purchase and travel card transaction data of all federal agencies for the purpose of determining strategic sourcing opportunities.</p> <p>(Sec. 6) The GSA shall report to Congress on this Act's implementation, including the metrics used in determining whether the analytic and investigatory efforts have: (1) reduced, or contributed to the reduction of, improper payments; or (2) improved strategic sourcing.</p> <p>Each executive agency that issues and uses purchase cards and convenience checks shall report on its activities to implement this Act.</p>

action_date: 2015-12-16
action_desc: Passed Senate amended
text: <p><strong>Saving Federal Dollars Through Better Use of Government Purchase and Travel Cards Act of 2015</strong></p> <p>(Sec. 3) This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to develop a strategy to expand the use of data analytics in managing government purchase and travel charge card programs for the purpose of:</p> <ul> <li> identifying examples or patterns of questionable transactions and developing enhanced tools and methods for agency use in identifying questionable purchase and travel card transactions and in recovering improper payments made with purchase and travel cards; </li> <li> identifying potential opportunities for agencies to further leverage administrative process streamlining and cost reduction from purchase and travel card use; </li> <li> developing a set of purchase and travel card metrics and benchmarks for high risk activities, which shall assist agencies in identifying potential emphasis areas for their purchase and travel card management and oversight activities; and </li> <li> developing a plan to create a library of analytics tools and data sources for use by federal agencies. </ul> <p>The bill defines: (1) &quot;questionable transaction&quot; as a charge card transaction that, from initial card data, appears to be high risk and that may be improper; and (2) &quot;strategic sourcing&quot; as analyzing and modifying a federal agency's spending patterns to better leverage its purchasing power, reduce costs, and improve overall performance.</p> <p>(Sec. 4) The OMB must issue guidance on improving information sharing by government agencies, including by: (1) requiring relevant officials at federal agencies to identify high-risk activities and communicate that information to the appropriate management levels within the agencies; (2) requiring that appropriate officials at federal agencies review the reports issued by charge card-issuing banks on questionable transaction activity, including transactions that occur with high risk activities, and suspicious timing or amounts of cash withdrawals or advances; and (3) providing for the appropriate sharing of information related to potential questionable transactions, fraud schemes, and high risk activities with GSA's Office of Charge Card Management and the appropriate federal agency officials. </p> <p>(Sec. 5) The GSA and the OMB must establish a purchase and travel charge card data management group to develop and share best practices, which shall: (1) cover rules, edits, and task order or contract modifications related to charge card-issuing banks; and (2) include the review of accounts payable information and purchase and travel card transaction data of agencies for the purpose of identifying potential strategic sourcing and other additional opportunities for which the charge cards or related payment products could be used as a payment method.</p> <p>(Sec. 6) The GSA shall report to Congress on this Act's implementation, including the metrics used in determining whether the analytic and benchmarking efforts have reduced, or contributed to the reduction of, questionable or improper payments as well as improved utilization of card-based payment products.</p> <p>Each executive agency that issues and uses purchase cards and convenience checks shall report to the OMB on activities to implement this Act. The OMB shall submit to Congress a consolidated report of agency activities to implement this Act.</p> <p>The GSA shall report to Congress identifying and exploring further potential savings opportunities for government agencies under the federal charge card programs.</p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1616 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 18, 2015 Mr. Carper (for himself, Mr. Grassley , Mrs. McCaskill , and Mr. Johnson ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To provide for the identification and prevention of improper payments and the identification of strategic sourcing opportunities by reviewing and analyzing the use of Federal agency charge cards.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Saving Federal Dollars Through Better Use of Government Purchase and Travel Cards Act of 2015 . 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Strategic sourcing The term strategic sourcing means analyzing and modifying a Federal agency’s spending patterns to better leverage its purchasing power, reduce costs, and improve overall performance. (2) Improper payment The term improper payment has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 ( 31 U.S.C. 3321 note). 3. Office of Federal Charge Card Analytics and Review (a) Establishment The Administrator of General Services shall establish an Office of Federal Charge Card Analytics and Review for improving the use and oversight of purchase and travel card transactions by Federal agencies and programs, including for the general purposes of— (1) identifying, preventing, and recovering improper payments (including fraud), and identifying and preventing other inappropriate use of purchase and travel cards that do not conform with Federal or agency purchase laws, policies, rules, or best practices; and (2) determining opportunities for strategic sourcing. (b) Duties The Office shall carry out the following duties: (1) Interagency Review for Improper Payments and Strategic Sourcing The review of purchase and travel card transaction data of all Federal agencies for the purposes described in subsection (a). The review shall include transactions for individual Federal agencies as well as across multiple Federal agencies and programs. Findings of potential improper payments (including fraud), opportunities for strategic sourcing, or issues of interest shall be communicated to the appropriate agency officials. The office may, as appropriate, use existing General Services Administration databases of purchase and travel card transaction for the interagency review. This analysis by the Office shall not end the requirement for individual agency oversight as described in the Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–194 ), but shall be considered as complementary and used in coordination with the individual agency. (2) Analytics library The establishment of a library of analytics tools and data sources for use by all Federal agencies (including inspectors general) for the purposes described in subsection (a). 4. Guidance on improving information sharing to curb improper payments (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with the Administrator of General Services and agency heads, and the interagency task force established under section 5, shall issue guidance on improving information sharing by government agencies (including inspectors general) for the purposes of section 3(a)(1). (b) Elements The guidance issued under subsection (a) shall— (1) require relevant officials at Federal agencies to identify high-risk merchants and communicate that information to the appropriate level of administration within the agencies; (2) ensure that appropriate officials at Federal agencies review the reports issued by charge card-issuing contractors of potential fraudulent or otherwise inappropriate activity, including the suspension of purchase and travel card accounts, travel card activity outside of the official government travel location, transactions that occur with high risk merchant, and suspicious levels of cash withdrawals; (3) provide for the appropriate sharing of information related to potential fraudulent transactions, fraud schemes, and high risk merchants with the Office of Federal Charge Card Analytics and Review established under section 3 and the appropriate officials in Federal agencies; and (4) other requirements determined appropriate by the Director for the purposes of carrying out this Act. 5. Interagency task force (a) Establishment The Administrator of General Services and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall establish and co-chair an interagency task force to develop and share best practices for the purposes described in section 3(a). (b) Elements The best practices developed under subsection (a) shall— (1) cover rules, edits, and task order or contract modifications related to charge card-issuing contractors; (2) include the review of purchase and travel card transaction data of all Federal agencies for the purpose of determining strategic sourcing opportunities; and (3) include other best practices as determined by the Administrator and Director. (c) Meetings The interagency task force shall meet regularly as determined by the co-chairs, for a duration of three years, and include those agencies as described in section 2 of the Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–194 ) and others identified by the co-chairs. 6. Reporting requirements (a) General services administration report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator for General Services shall submit a report to Congress on the implementation of this Act, including the metrics used in determining whether the analytic and investigatory efforts have reduced, or contributed to the reduction of, improper payments or improved strategic sourcing. (b) Agency reports Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the head of each Federal agency described in section 2 of the Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–194 ) shall submit a report to Congress on its activities to implement this Act.

tv_txt: 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1616 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To provide for the identification and prevention of improper payments and the identification of strategic sourcing opportunities by reviewing and analyzing the use of Federal agency charge cards.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Saving Federal Dollars Through Better Use of Government Purchase and Travel Cards Act of 2015 . 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Improper payment The term improper payment has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 ( 31 U.S.C. 3321 note). (2) Questionable transaction The term questionable transaction means a charge card transaction that from initial card data appears to be high risk and may therefore be improper due to non-compliance with applicable law, regulation or policy. (3) Strategic sourcing The term strategic sourcing means analyzing and modifying a Federal agency’s spending patterns to better leverage its purchasing power, reduce costs, and improve overall performance. 3. Expanded use of data analytics (a) Strategy Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with the Administrator for General Services, shall develop a strategy to expand the use of data analytics in managing government purchase and travel charge card programs. These analytics may employ existing General Services Administration capabilities, and may be in conjunction with agencies’ capabilities, for the purpose of— (1) identifying examples or patterns of questionable transactions and developing enhanced tools and methods for agency use in— (A) identifying questionable purchase and travel card transactions; and (B) recovering improper payments made with purchase and travel cards; (2) identifying potential opportunities for agencies to further leverage administrative process streamlining and cost reduction from purchase and travel card use, including additional agency opportunities for card-based strategic sourcing; (3) developing a set of purchase and travel card metrics and benchmarks for high risk activities, which shall assist agencies in identifying potential emphasis areas for their purchase and travel card management and oversight activities, including those required by the Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–194 ); and (4) developing a plan, which may be based on existing capabilities, to create a library of analytics tools and data sources for use by Federal agencies (including inspectors general of those agencies). 4. Guidance on improving information sharing to curb improper payments (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with the Administrator of General Services and the interagency charge card data management group established under section 5, shall issue guidance on improving information sharing by government agencies (including inspectors general) for the purposes of section 3(a)(1). (b) Elements The guidance issued under subsection (a) shall— (1) require relevant officials at Federal agencies to identify high-risk activities and communicate that information to the appropriate management levels within the agencies; (2) require that appropriate officials at Federal agencies review the reports issued by charge card-issuing banks on questionable transaction activity (such as purchase and travel card pre-suspension and suspension reports, delinquency reports, and exception reports), including transactions that occur with high risk activities, and suspicious timing or amounts of cash withdrawals or advances; (3) provide for the appropriate sharing of information related to potential questionable transactions, fraud schemes, and high risk activities with General Services Administration Office of Charge Card Management and the appropriate officials in Federal agencies; and (4) include other requirements determined appropriate by the Director for the purposes of carrying out this Act. 5. Interagency Charge Card Data Management Group (a) Establishment The Administrator of General Services and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall establish a purchase and travel charge card data management group to develop and share best practices for the purposes described in section 3(a). (b) Elements The best practices developed under subsection (a) shall— (1) cover rules, edits, and task order or contract modifications related to charge card-issuing banks; (2) include the review of accounts payable information and purchase and travel card transaction data of agencies for the purpose of identifying potential strategic sourcing and other additional opportunities (such as recurring payments, utility payments, and grant payments) for which the charge cards or related payment products could be used as a payment method; and (3) include other best practices as determined by the Administrator and Director. (c) Membership The purchase and travel charge card data management group shall meet regularly as determined by the co-chairs, for a duration of three years, and include those agencies as described in section 2 of the Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–194 ) and others identified by the Administrator and Director. 6. Reporting requirements (a) General Services Administration report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator for General Services shall submit a report to Congress on the implementation of this Act, including the metrics used in determining whether the analytic and benchmarking efforts have reduced, or contributed to the reduction of, questionable or improper payments as well as improved utilization of card-based payment products. (b) Agency reports and consolidated report to Congress Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the head of each Federal agency described in section 2 of the Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–194 ) shall submit a report to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget on that agency’s activities to implement this Act. (c) Office of Management and Budget report to Congress The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall submit to Congress a consolidated report of agency activities to implement this Act, which may be included as part of another report submitted to Congress by the Director. (d) Report on additional savings opportunities Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of General Services shall submit a report to Congress identifying and exploring further potential savings opportunities for government agencies under the Federal charge card programs. This report may be combined with the report required under subsection (a).

Passed the Senate December 16, 2015. Secretary

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 315 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1616 [Report No. 114–174] IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 18, 2015 Mr. Carper (for himself, Mr. Grassley , Mrs. McCaskill , and Mr. Johnson ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs December 8, 2015 Reported by Mr. Johnson , without amendment A BILL To provide for the identification and prevention of improper payments and the identification of strategic sourcing opportunities by reviewing and analyzing the use of Federal agency charge cards.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Saving Federal Dollars Through Better Use of Government Purchase and Travel Cards Act of 2015 . 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Strategic sourcing The term strategic sourcing means analyzing and modifying a Federal agency’s spending patterns to better leverage its purchasing power, reduce costs, and improve overall performance. (2) Improper payment The term improper payment has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 ( 31 U.S.C. 3321 note). 3. Office of Federal Charge Card Analytics and Review (a) Establishment The Administrator of General Services shall establish an Office of Federal Charge Card Analytics and Review for improving the use and oversight of purchase and travel card transactions by Federal agencies and programs, including for the general purposes of— (1) identifying, preventing, and recovering improper payments (including fraud), and identifying and preventing other inappropriate use of purchase and travel cards that do not conform with Federal or agency purchase laws, policies, rules, or best practices; and (2) determining opportunities for strategic sourcing. (b) Duties The Office shall carry out the following duties: (1) Interagency Review for Improper Payments and Strategic Sourcing The review of purchase and travel card transaction data of all Federal agencies for the purposes described in subsection (a). The review shall include transactions for individual Federal agencies as well as across multiple Federal agencies and programs. Findings of potential improper payments (including fraud), opportunities for strategic sourcing, or issues of interest shall be communicated to the appropriate agency officials. The office may, as appropriate, use existing General Services Administration databases of purchase and travel card transaction for the interagency review. This analysis by the Office shall not end the requirement for individual agency oversight as described in the Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–194 ), but shall be considered as complementary and used in coordination with the individual agency. (2) Analytics library The establishment of a library of analytics tools and data sources for use by all Federal agencies (including inspectors general) for the purposes described in subsection (a). 4. Guidance on improving information sharing to curb improper payments (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with the Administrator of General Services and agency heads, and the interagency task force established under section 5, shall issue guidance on improving information sharing by government agencies (including inspectors general) for the purposes of section 3(a)(1). (b) Elements The guidance issued under subsection (a) shall— (1) require relevant officials at Federal agencies to identify high-risk merchants and communicate that information to the appropriate level of administration within the agencies; (2) ensure that appropriate officials at Federal agencies review the reports issued by charge card-issuing contractors of potential fraudulent or otherwise inappropriate activity, including the suspension of purchase and travel card accounts, travel card activity outside of the official government travel location, transactions that occur with high risk merchant, and suspicious levels of cash withdrawals; (3) provide for the appropriate sharing of information related to potential fraudulent transactions, fraud schemes, and high risk merchants with the Office of Federal Charge Card Analytics and Review established under section 3 and the appropriate officials in Federal agencies; and (4) other requirements determined appropriate by the Director for the purposes of carrying out this Act. 5. Interagency task force (a) Establishment The Administrator of General Services and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall establish and co-chair an interagency task force to develop and share best practices for the purposes described in section 3(a). (b) Elements The best practices developed under subsection (a) shall— (1) cover rules, edits, and task order or contract modifications related to charge card-issuing contractors; (2) include the review of purchase and travel card transaction data of all Federal agencies for the purpose of determining strategic sourcing opportunities; and (3) include other best practices as determined by the Administrator and Director. (c) Meetings The interagency task force shall meet regularly as determined by the co-chairs, for a duration of three years, and include those agencies as described in section 2 of the Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–194 ) and others identified by the co-chairs. 6. Reporting requirements (a) General services administration report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator for General Services shall submit a report to Congress on the implementation of this Act, including the metrics used in determining whether the analytic and investigatory efforts have reduced, or contributed to the reduction of, improper payments or improved strategic sourcing. (b) Agency reports Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the head of each Federal agency described in section 2 of the Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–194 ) shall submit a report to Congress on its activities to implement this Act.

December 8, 2015 Reported without amendment