Department of Homeland Security Border Support Services Contracts Review Act

Bill: 117-hr-5683
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3]
Introduced: 2021-10-22
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration

Congressional oversight

Department of Homeland Security

Executive agency funding and structure

Government studies and investigations

Latin America

Mexico

Public contracts and procurement
Latest action: action_date: 2022-01-21
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 167.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-10-22
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Department of Homeland Security Border Support Services Contracts Review Act</strong></p> <p>This bill directs the Management Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security to assess active contracts for services related to border security awarded in FY2021 or earlier. The assessment must include a strategy to enhance coordination, minimize overlap, and increase cost-effectiveness among such contracts.</p>

action_date: 2022-01-21
action_desc: Reported to House
text: <p><strong>Department of Homeland Security Border Support Services Contracts Review Act</strong></p> <p>This bill directs the Management Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assess certain active contracts for services related to security along the land border with Mexico awarded in FY2021 or earlier. </p> <p>Specifically, this applies to any contract with a total value of $50 million or more, inclusive of contract options, relating to the procurement of services for DHS with respect to that border.</p> <p>The assessment must include a strategy to enhance coordination, minimize overlap, and increase cost-effectiveness among such contracts.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5683 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 22, 2021 Mrs. Cammack (for herself and Mr. Katko ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security A BILL To direct the Under Secretary for Management of the Department of Homeland Security to assess contracts for covered services performed by contractor personnel along the borders of the United States, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Department of Homeland Security Border Support Services Contracts Review Act . 2. Assessment of contracts for covered services by the Department of Homeland Security (a) Report (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Management of the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with appropriate officials of the Department, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on active contracts for covered services of the Department awarded on or before September 30, 2021. (2) Elements The report required under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) The criteria used by the Department to determine whether contractor personnel were necessary to assist the Department in carrying out its mission along the borders of the United States. (B) An analysis of the purpose, quantity, and location of contractor personnel to perform covered services of the Department with respect to effectively— (i) addressing mission needs along such borders; and (ii) enhancing the capability of Department personnel to perform primary mission responsibilities, including the number of Department personnel not removed from their primary mission responsibilities by reason of the performance of covered services by contractor personnel. (C) An assessment with respect to the benefits of contractor personnel performing covered services, including whether the performance of such services by contractor personnel is more efficient or effective than the performance of such services by Department employees. (D) An assessment of opportunities to increase the efficiency of the Department with respect to contracting, including whether Department-wide contract vehicles for covered services would be the most cost effective option for the performance of covered services. (E) A strategy to improve the procurement and delivery of covered services through contracts during the five-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act to achieve the best value for the Department through the use of full and open competition and to ensure no lapse in the performance of such services. (F) Recommendations based on findings resulting from the analysis and assessments required in subparagraphs (B) through (D). (G) Any other information relating to contracts for covered services that the Under Secretary determines to be appropriate. (b) Implementation plan (1) In general The Under Secretary for Management shall transmit with the report required under subsection (a) a plan to implement the recommendations and strategy contained in such report to enhance coordination, minimize overlap, and increase cost effectiveness among contracts for covered services. (2) Briefing Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Under Secretary for Management submits the report required under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) and the plan required under paragraph (1) and every 180 days thereafter until the plan is fully implemented, the Under Secretary, or the designee of the Under Secretary, shall provide a briefing to the appropriate congressional committees with respect to the status of such implementation. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) The term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives; and (B) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate. (2) The term contract for covered services means a contract relating to the procurement of covered services for the Department of Homeland Security. (3) The term covered services means with respect to the borders of the United States, any service related to border security provided by a contractor to be used by the Department.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 167 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5683 [Report No. 117–232] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 22, 2021 Mrs. Cammack (for herself and Mr. Katko ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security January 21, 2022 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on October 22, 2021 A BILL To direct the Under Secretary for Management of the Department of Homeland Security to assess contracts for covered services performed by contractor personnel along the borders of the United States, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Department of Homeland Security Border Support Services Contracts Review Act . 2. Assessment of contracts for covered services by the Department of Homeland Security (a) Report (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Management of the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with appropriate officials of the Department, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on active contracts for covered services of the Department awarded on or before September 30, 2021. (2) Elements The report required under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) The criteria used by the Department to determine whether contractor personnel were necessary to assist the Department in carrying out its mission along the United States land border with Mexico. (B) An analysis of the purpose, quantity, and location of contractor personnel to perform covered services of the Department with respect to effectively— (i) addressing mission needs along such border; and (ii) enhancing the capability of Department personnel to perform primary mission responsibilities, including the number of Department personnel not removed from their primary mission responsibilities by reason of the performance of covered services by contractor personnel. (C) An assessment with respect to the benefits of contractor personnel performing covered services, including whether the performance of such services by contractor personnel is more efficient or effective than the performance of such services by Department employees. (D) An assessment of opportunities to increase the efficiency of the Department with respect to contracting, including whether Department-wide contract vehicles for covered services would be the most cost effective option for the performance of covered services. (E) A strategy to improve the procurement and delivery of covered services through contracts during the five-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act to achieve the best value for the Department through the use of full and open competition and to ensure no lapse in the performance of such services. (F) Recommendations based on findings resulting from the analysis and assessments required in subparagraphs (B) through (D). (G) Any other information relating to contracts for covered services that the Under Secretary determines to be appropriate. (b) Implementation plan (1) In general The Under Secretary for Management shall transmit with the report required under subsection (a) a plan to implement the recommendations and strategy contained in such report to enhance coordination, minimize overlap, and increase cost effectiveness among contracts for covered services. (2) Briefing Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Under Secretary for Management submits the report required under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) and the plan required under paragraph (1) and every 180 days thereafter until the plan is fully implemented, the Under Secretary, or the designee of the Under Secretary, shall provide a briefing to the appropriate congressional committees with respect to the status of such implementation. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) The term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives; and (B) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate. (2) The term contract for covered services means a contract (with a total contract value of $50,000,000 or more, inclusive of contract options) relating to the procurement of covered services for the Department of Homeland Security. (3) The term covered services means, with respect to the United States land border with Mexico, any service, including related to border security, provided by a contractor to be used by the Department.

Amend the title so as to read: A bill to direct the Under Secretary for Management of the Department of Homeland Security to assess contracts for covered services performed by contractor personnel along the United States land border with Mexico, and for other purposes. .

January 21, 2022 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed