Contractor Accountability and Workplace Safety Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1440
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2017-06-26
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies

Congressional oversight

Department of Defense

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Government information and archives

Government studies and investigations

Military procurement, research, weapons development

Public contracts and procurement

Worker safety and health
Latest action: action_date: 2017-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-06-26
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Contractor Accountability and Workplace Safety Act of 2017</b></p> <p>This bill requires contracting officers of the Department of Defense (DOD), before awarding or renewing a contract for the procurement of property or services, including construction, valued over $1 million, to consider any identified violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA) or equivalent state laws by the offeror or any subcontractors. </p> <p>The bill requires DOD to: (1) shall establish policies and practices with respect to responsibility determinations for contractors, and (2) protect the rights of contractors to protest bids and appeal actions taken under this bill.</p> <p>The Government Accountability Office must report on the health and safety records of DOD contractors.</p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1440 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 26, 2017 Ms. Warren introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To ensure the safety of workers of contractors that serve and supply the Armed Forces and the accountable use of taxpayer dollars.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Contractor Accountability and Workplace Safety Act of 2017 . 2. Department of Defense contractor workplace safety and accountability (a) Identification of known workplace safety and health violations (1) In general A contracting officer, prior to awarding or renewing a covered contract, shall, as part of the responsibility determination, consider any identified violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 ( 29 U.S.C. 651 et seq.) or equivalent State laws by the offeror, and by any covered subcontractors. (2) Responsibility determination The contracting officer shall consider violations described in paragraph (1) in determining whether the offeror is a responsible source with a satisfactory record of performance that meets mission and ethical standards. (3) Referral of information to suspension and debarment officials As appropriate, a contracting officer shall refer matters related to violations described in paragraph (1) to the Department of Defense's suspension and debarment official in accordance with Department procedures. (b) Contractor rights The Secretary of Defense shall establish policies and practices— (1) ensuring that when making responsibility determinations, contracting officers request that contractors provide any and all information the contractors deem necessary to demonstrate responsibility prior to final determinations; (2) establishing mechanisms for contractors to have an expedited process to review any information used to support determinations of non-responsibility; and (3) establishing mechanisms for contractors to have an expedited process to appeal determinations of non-responsibility. (c) Protest rights The Secretary of Defense shall protect the rights of contractors to protest bids and appeal actions taken pursuant to this section. (d) Training and guidance The Secretary of Defense shall develop and provide clear training and guidance to acquisition officials, contracting officers, and current and potential contractors regarding implementation policies and practices for this section. (e) Comptroller General report (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Department of Defense and the congressional defense committees a report on the health and safety records of Department of Defense contractors. (2) Elements The report required under paragraph (1) shall include the following elements: (A) A description of the Department of Defense's existing procedures to evaluate the safety and health records of current and prospective contractors. (B) An evaluation of the Department's adherence to those procedures. (C) An assessment of the current incidence of health and safety violations by Department contractors. (D) An assessment of whether the Department of Labor has the resources to investigate and identify safety and health violations by Department of Defense contractors. (E) An assessment of whether the Department of Labor should consider assuming an expanded investigatory role or a targeted enforcement program for ensuring the safety and health of workers under Department of Defense contracts. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Congressional defense committees The term congressional defense committees has the meaning given the term in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code. (2) Covered contract The term covered contract means a Department of Defense contract for the procurement of property or services, including construction, valued in excess of $1,000,000. (3) Covered subcontractor The term covered subcontractor means a subcontractor listed in the bid for a covered contract or known by the Department of Defense to be a subcontractor of the offeror.