Opinion ID: 688720
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Asserted Conflict with 41 U.S.C. Sec. 253a(b)(2)(B)(ii).

Text: 23 41 U.S.C. Sec. 253a(b)(2)(B)(ii) provides in pertinent part that: [E]ach solicitation for ... competitive proposals ... shall at a minimum include-- ... the time and place for submission of proposals. 60 Key asserts, in its letter brief regarding this issue, that the specification of an initial due date and a bar of any subsequent offers is mandated by the quoted provision. 5 The statute's language does not require this reading, however, because Section 253a(b)(2)(B)(ii) provides only that a time and place for bid submission must be stated in the SFO, and does not assert any penalty for bid submissions after this date. It cannot be disputed that the GSA included a time for submission of offers in the SFO, thus complying with the literal requirement of Sec. 253a(b)(2)(B)(ii). 24 Further, the legislative history of CICA establishes that a predominant purpose of its enactment was to augment competition. As stated in Abel Converting, Inc. v. United States, 679 F.Supp. 1133 (D.D.C.1988): 25 Following a careful review of federal government procurement procedures, Congress determined that at the time a majority of such procurement was achieved by noncompetitive procedures to the detriment of the government. S.Rep. No. 98-50, 98th Cong., 1st Sess. 7 (1984) [hereinafter Senate Report]. To correct this imbalance, Congress enacted CICA, Pub.L. No. 98-369, Division B, Title VII, 98 Stat. 1175 (1984), and established a statutory preference for the use of competitive procedures. Senate Report at 1. 26 679 F.Supp. at 1138. 27 In furtherance of this goal, 41 U.S.C. Sec. 414(1) specifies that: 28 To further achieve effective, efficient, and economic administration of the Federal procurement system, the head of each executive agency shall, in accordance with applicable laws, Government-wide policies and regulations, and good business practices-- 29 (1) increase the use of full and open competition in the procurement of property or services by the executive agency by establishing policies, procedures, and practices that assure that the executive agency receives a sufficient number of sealed bids or competitive proposals from responsible sources to fulfill the Government's requirements (including performance and delivery schedules) at the lowest reasonable cost considering the nature of the property or service procured[.] 30 The GSA's policy of allowing bids to be submitted up to the BAFO deadline effectively enhances competition, as occurred in this case. Thus, we perceive no conflict between GSAR Sec. 552.270-3 and either the literal requirements of 41 U.S.C. Sec. 253a(b)(2)(B)(ii) or the underlying policy of CICA to enhance competition. 31