zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
American Steel First Act of 2013 - Prohibits heads of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the Department of Transportation (DOT) from obligating or expending funds or providing financial assistance for projects for the construction, alteration, maintenance, or repair of a public building or public work unless all of the iron and steel used in such project is produced in the United States.

Waives such prohibition in cases where: (1) the prohibition would be inconsistent with the public interest, (2) iron and steel are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities of a satisfactory quality, or (3) inclusion of iron and steel produced in the United States will increase the cost of the overall project contract by more than 25%. Prohibits waivers by a department head for products produced in a foreign country that is determined by the U.S. Trade Representative to have violated the terms of an agreement with the United States by discriminating against products covered by the agreement that are produced in the United States.

Prohibits such department heads from imposing financial assistance restrictions on: (1) states that impose more stringent requirements on the use of iron and steel in foreign countries in projects carried out with such assistance, or (2) recipients that comply with such state imposed requirements.

Makes any person who intentionally mislabels or misrepresents a product used in a project under this Act as "Made in America" ineligible for another department contract from for six years.

Requires the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) publish a justification for a waiver of the prohibition against obligating funds to carry out the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982, highway projects, public transportation projects, or aviation programs unless the steel, iron, and manufactured products used are produced in the United States; and (2) provide for public notice and comment for such waiver.

Date: 2013-04-26
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Construction Quality Assurance Act of 2013 - Requires each solicitation by an executive agency for the procurement of construction in excess of $1 million to require each bidder to submit the name, business location, and nature of work of each subcontractor with whom such bidder will subcontract for work in excess of $100,000. Deems to be non-responsive, and prohibits consideration of, any bidder that fails to list such subcontractors.

Prohibits a contractor from substituting another subcontractor for a listed subcontractor, permitting any subcontract to be voluntarily assigned or transferred, or subcontracting work for which the contractor listed itself, except with the consent of the contracting officer for good cause. Sets forth: (1) examples of good cause and procedures required for substitution requests; and (2) penalties for violations of substitution prohibitions, including suspension or debarment from federal contracts for multiple violations. Requires revisions to the Federal Acquisition Regulation to implement this Act.

Date: 2013-05-09
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Amends the procurement technical assistance cooperative agreement program of the Department of Defense (DOD) (providing procurement technical assistance to businesses) to: (1) increase from 50% to 65% the DOD share of program costs, and (2) increase assistance limits with respect to programs operating on a statewide basis, on less than a statewide basis, wholly within one service area of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, or wholly within more than one such service area.

Date: 2013-05-23
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Prohibits the federal government from contracting with an offeror or any of its principals if the offeror certifies that it or any of its principals: (1) within the preceding three years, has been convicted of (or had a civil judgment rendered against it for) commission of fraud or a criminal offense in connection with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a public contract or subcontract, violation of federal or state antitrust statutes relating to the submission of offers, commission of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, making false statements, tax evasion, or violating federal criminal tax laws, or receiving stolen property; (2) are presently criminally or civilly charged by a governmental entity with such offenses; or (3) within the preceding three years, has been notified of any delinquent federal taxes in an amount that exceeds $3,000 for which the liability remains unsatisfied.

Date: 2013-06-18
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Section 526 Repeal Act - Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to repeal the requirement that any federal agency procurement contract for an alternative or synthetic fuel, including those from nonconventional petroleum sources, for any mobility-related use (except research or testing) specify that lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with the fuel must, on an ongoing basis, be less than or equal to such emissions from equivalent conventional fuel produced from conventional petroleum sources.

Date: 2013-06-25
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Energy
Buy Smarter and Save Act of 2013 - Directs the President to establish: (1) an annual government-wide goal to procure goods and services using strategic sourcing, and (2) an annual government-wide goal for savings from the use of strategic sourcing. Defines "strategic sourcing" as a structured and collaborative process of critically analyzing an organization's spending patterns to better leverage its purchasing power, reduce costs, and improve overall value and performance.

Directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to: (1) issue guidance to executive agencies for implementing the strategic sourcing goals established by this Act, and (2) report on spending for goods and services that was strategically sourced and the extent of the savings realized.

Directs the Departments of Defense (DOD), Homeland Security (DHS), Energy (DOE), Veterans Affairs (VA), and Health and Human Services (HHS), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the General Services Administration (GSA), and the Small Business Administration (SBA) to take certain actions to support strategic sourcing, including establishing department wide-goals and savings targets for strategic sourcing efforts and a strategic sourcing accountability official.

Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to: (1) conduct studies on contract utilization fees and on establishing strategic sourcing initiative contract vehicles, and (2) assess and report on the performance of executive agencies in implementing the strategic sourcing goals required by this Act and the amounts saved through the use of strategic sourcing.

Date: 2013-07-16
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Grant Reform and New Transparency Act of 2013 or the GRANT Act - Establishes new standards for awarding federal grants. Requires executive agencies to use merit-based selection procedures in awarding grants and to conduct an evaluation of the ability of a prospective grantee to successfully carry out a grant before awarding it.

Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to: (1) upgrade any public website for finding federal grant opportunities so that such website serves as a central point of information for competitive grants, (2) issue and disseminate guidance to aid agencies in establishing merit-based selection procedures for grant programs and in identifying amounts of undisbursed funding remaining in grant accounts, and (3) submit a plan to improve the single audit process for auditing the financial statements and federal awards of a non-federal entity. Sets forth the information required to be included in the public grant website, including grant funds availability and grant award information. Requires agencies to explain to grant applicants the basis for award decisions involving grants exceeding $100,000.

Date: 2013-10-23
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Protecting Health Care Providers from Increased Administrative Burdens Act - Prohibits a state or local government or other entity that receives a payment from the federal government related to the delivery of health care services to individuals, whether or not such individuals are or have been employed by the federal government, from being treated as a federal contractor or subcontractor by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs based on the work performed or actions taken by such individuals that resulted in the receipt of such payment.

Date: 2013-12-03
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Health
Serve Our Heroes Now Act - Prohibits awarding a contract to any contractor whose past performance resulted in the completion of a construction project at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facility more than 24 months after the original agreed-upon completion date.

Date: 2014-04-03
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Prohibiting False "Made in America" Claims Act - Requires a person convicted of intentionally affixing a "Made in America" label to any product sold in or shipped to the United States that is not made in America to be debarred from contracting with the Department of Defense (DOD) unless the Secretary of Defense waives such debarment in the interest of national security (current law requires the Secretary to decide whether a convicted person should be debarred).

Directs the Secretary to notify the congressional defense committees annually of any exercise of such waiver authority.

Date: 2014-05-22
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Civilian Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act of 2014 or the CEJA - Amends the federal criminal code to grant jurisdiction over and impose penalties on federal contractors and employees who commit certain crimes outside of the United States while employed by or accompanying any agency of the United States other than the Department of Defense (DOD) or while so employed and stationed or deployed in a country outside of the United States pursuant to a treaty or executive agreement in furtherance of a border security initiative with that country. Sets forth the crimes under federal law that are covered by this Act.

Provides for an optional venue for offenses under this Act involving federal employees and contractors overseas in the district in which is headquartered the U.S. agency that: (1) employs the offender, or any one or two or more joint offenders; or (2) the offender is accompanying, or that any one or two or more joint offenders is accompanying.

Requires the statute of limitations for an offense under this Act to be suspended for the period during which the alleged offender is outside the United States or is a fugitive from justice.

Directs the Attorney General to: (1) assign personnel and resources through task forces to investigate allegations of criminal offenses by federal contractors and employees overseas, and (2) report to Congress annually on the number of prosecutions and actions taken. Grants the Attorney General principal authority for the enforcement of this Act.

Makes this Act inapplicable to the authorized intelligence activities of the U.S. government.

Date: 2014-07-14
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 to amend the definition of a "covered procurement" that is subject to the requirement for written justification and approval prior to the award of a single-source contract exceeding $20 million to include a military or executive agency procurement.

Date: 2014-07-25
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Restore Opportunity, Strengthen, and Improve the Economy Act - Prohibits an executive agency from awarding a contract for the acquisition of supplies or services to a source that is not a Good Jobs Model Employer, unless there is no offer from such an employer.

Defines a "Good Jobs Model Employer" as one that:

 respects employees' rights to bargain collectively with their employers without being forced to take strike action to win better wages and working conditions; offers to each employee living wages, decent benefits including health care, paid leave for sickness and caregiving, and fair work schedules that are predictable and stable; affirmatively demonstrates an exemplary standard of compliance with workplace protection laws, including laws governing labor relations, wages and hours, and health and safety, as well as other applicable labor laws; limits executive compensation to 50 times the median salary paid to the company's workers; employs a workforce not less than 35% of which reside within one or more Historically Underutilized Business Zones; and subcontracts only with other Good Jobs Model Employers. Prohibits an executive agency from providing other forms of assistance to entities that are not model employers when there is a similarly situated Good Jobs Model Employer that could receive the assistance, unless doing so would substantially undermine the value of the assistance to the public good.

Requires executive agencies to incorporate into each new contract or assistance agreement a clause requiring the contractor or recipient to conduct itself as a Good Jobs Model Employer for the duration of the contract. Provides for the suspension of a contractor or assistance recipient that fails to do so and for debarment for multiple violations.

Requires: (1) the Secretary of Labor to promulgate regulations implementing such Good Jobs Model Employer standards, and (2) specified officials to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation to effect the policy and purposes of this Act.

Date: 2014-07-29
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Preventing Government Printing Overreach Act of 2014 - Prohibits the Public Printer from assembling or manufacturing any secure credentials or the component parts of any such credential.

Makes such prohibition inapplicable to the following activities:

 stitching security paper into an already assembled eCover for the Department of State; manufacturing NEXUS and SENTRI cards pursuant to any existing contract or purchase order until the earlier of the date on which such contract expires or such purchase order is filled, or December 31, 2015; assembling or manufacturing any secure credentials specifically at the request of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or the National Security Agency (NSA) for use in classified programs or activities; and manufacturing identification badges for the presidential inauguration. Defines "secure credential" to mean an identification document that includes component security parts designed to authenticate the document or reduce the risk of the unauthorized replication or alteration of the document.

Date: 2014-07-30
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
No Federal Contracts for Corporate Deserters Act of 2014 - Prohibits an executive agency from awarding a contract (including a defense contract) to: (1) any foreign incorporated entity determined to be an inverted domestic corporation or any subsidiary of such entity, or (2) any joint venture more than 10% of which is held by such an entity or subsidiary.

Directs each agency to include in each contract awarded with a value in excess of $10 million, other than a contract for exclusively commercial items, a clause that prohibits the prime contractor from: (1) awarding a first-tier subcontract with a value greater than 10% of the total prime contract to such an entity or joint venture, or (2) structuring subcontract tiers enabling such entity or joint venture to perform more than 10% of the total value of the prime contract.

Authorizes an agency to waive such requirements for a contract in the interest of national security. Provides for termination of a contract or suspension or debarment of a contractor in violation of this Act.

Requires a foreign incorporated entity to be treated as an inverted domestic corporation if: (1) the entity acquires, on or after May 8, 2014, substantially all of the properties held by a domestic corporation or substantially all of the assets of, or substantially all of the properties constituting a trade or business of, a domestic partnership; and (2) after the acquisition, either more than 50% of the stock of the entity is held by former shareholders of the domestic corporation or former partners of the domestic partnership, or the management and control of the expanded affiliated group which includes the entity occurs primarily within the United States and such expanded affiliated group has significant domestic business activities. Sets forth an exception for an entity within an expanded affiliated group with substantial business activities in the foreign country in which the entity is created.

Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations for determining cases in which the management and control of an expanded affiliated group is to be treated as occurring primarily within the United States.

Date: 2014-07-30
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Consumer Review Freedom Act of 2014 - Declares a provision of a form contract to be void from the inception if it: (1) prohibits or restricts a person who is a party to the contract from engaging in written, verbal, or pictorial reviews, or other similar performance assessments or analyses of, the products, services, or conduct of a business that is a party to the contract; (2) imposes penalties or fees against such a person for engaging in such communications; or (3) assigns or provides an exclusive license, or requires such a person to assign or provide an exclusive license, to any of the person's intellectual property rights in such communications. (Thus, bars certain contract provisions that prohibit consumers from commenting publicly about businesses.)

Sets forth exceptions under which a provision shall not be considered void under this Act if the provision prohibits disclosure of certain: (1) trade secrets or commercial or financial information, (2) personnel and medical files, or (3) law enforcement records.

Provides for this Act to be inapplicable to contracts establishing an employer-employee or independent contractor relationship.

Prohibits businesses from offering or entering into form contracts containing a provision that is considered void under this Act. Treats violations by businesses as unfair or deceptive acts or practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act. Sets forth authority for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general to enforce such violations.

Date: 2014-09-16
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Commerce
Requires a revision to the Federal Acquisition Regulation to require a certification from each person that is a prospective government contractor that such person, and any person owned or controlled by such person, is not a boycotting person (a person who refuses to do business with a country with which the United States has a fair trade agreement). Debars from eligibility for federal contracts for at least two years any person who submits a false certification.

Date: 2014-11-18
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Soledad Canyon Settlement Act - (Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to offer to cancel Bureau of Land Management (BLM) mineral contracts CA-20139 and CA-22901 (located in Soledad Canyon, California) and compensate the contract holder for the cancellation with proceeds from the sale of certain lands near Victorville, California.

(Sec. 4) Requires the Secretary to provide to the applicable local land use authority a 30-day exclusive, preemptive right to purchase specified land located within its jurisdiction.

Withdraws affected areas from further mineral entry and leasing.

Date: 2014-11-19
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Cyber Supply Chain Management and Transparency Act of 2014 - Requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue guidelines for agencies that contract to acquire software, firmware, or products containing a third party or open source binary component.

Requires binary component contracts to include clauses requiring:

 a confidentially supplied list, or a bill of materials, of each binary component that is used in the software, firmware, or product; the contractor to verify that products do not contain known security vulnerabilities and to notify the purchasing agency of any known vulnerabilities or defects; the contractor to obtain a waiver from the purchasing agency for components known to be vulnerable; an agency approving a vulnerability waiver to accept all risk associated with component use; product designs to allow fixes with patches, updates, or replacements; and the contractor to provide timely repairs for discovered vulnerabilities. Directs the OMB to issue guidance requiring agencies: (1) to replace components with currently known vulnerabilities and to remove or repair any new vulnerable components that become known; and (2) to migrate to patchable, repairable, and fixable products.

Requires agencies to provide the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with a list of each known vulnerable component in any product in use by the agencies.

Directs DHS to issue an annual confidential report describing the security vulnerabilities of projects that created any known vulnerable component. Requires the report to assess the integrity of component suppliers for the incidence of security vulnerabilities for use by other agencies.

Requires agencies, within 30 months after enactment of this Act, to report to Congress regarding the completion of the removal of each known vulnerable or defective component.

Directs other entities of the U.S. government to replace vulnerable components with less vulnerable alternatives.

Date: 2014-12-04
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Government Neutrality in Contracting Act - Directs the head of any federal agency that awards or obligates funds for any construction contract, or that awards grants, provides financial assistance, or enters into cooperative agreements for construction projects, to ensure that bid specifications, project agreements, or other controlling documents do not: (1) require or forbid a bidder, offeror, contractor, or subcontractor to enter into or adhere to agreements with a labor organization with respect to that construction project or another related construction project; or (2) otherwise discriminate against such a party because it did or did not become a signatory or otherwise adhere to such an agreement.

Allows exemptions to avert an imminent threat to public health or safety or to serve national security. Allows additional exemptions for certain projects. Directs the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation to implement this Act with respect to the applicable federal contracts.

Date: 2013-01-23
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Freedom from Government Competition Act - Requires each executive or military department or independent establishment to obtain all goods and services necessary for or beneficial to the accomplishment of its authorized functions by procurement from private sources, except if: (1) such goods or services are required by law to be produced or performed by such agency; or (2) the head of the agency determines and certifies that federal production, manufacture, or provision of a good or service is necessary for the national defense or homeland security, that a good or service is so inherently governmental in nature that it is in the public interest to require production or performance by government employees, or that there is no private source capable of providing the good or service.

Requires such private sector provision of goods and services to be performed through: (1) the divestiture of federal involvement, (2) the award of a contract using competitive procedures, (3) converting an activity to performance by a qualified firm under at least 51% ownership by an Indian tribe or a Native Hawaiian Organization, or (4) conducting a public-private competitive sourcing analysis in accordance with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) procedures and determining that using the private sector is in the best interest of the United States and provides the best value to the taxpayer.

Authorizes an agency head to utilize federal employees to provide goods or services previously provided by a private sector entity upon completion of a public-private competitive sourcing analysis and after determining that provision by federal employees provides the best value.

Requires the Director of OMB to carry out a study, in conjunction with the Comptroller General (GAO), to evaluate the activities carried out in each agency.

Date: 2013-03-12
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Government Contractor Accountability Act of 2013 - Requires specified federal agencies (defined as establishments by the Inspector General Act of 1978) to report to Congress on their response, or lack of response, to covered final audit reports submitted to such agencies by an Inspector General or by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction or the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. Defines "covered final audit report" as a final report issued by an Inspector General that includes a recommendation for implementing cost-saving measures or for seeking reimbursement for failure by a contractor or subcontractor to successfully complete a contract due to poor performance, cost-overruns, or other reasons that would, if implemented, result in at least $2 million in savings.

Date: 2013-03-22
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Small Business Fairness Act of 2013 - Amends the Small Business Act to permit a contract between a federal agency and a small business teaming arrangement entity to be deemed awarded for purposes of the small business procurement and services contracting goals established by the head of that agency if the obligations of such entity are performed by a qualified HUBZone (historically underutilized business zone) small business or a small business owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, or women.

Defines "teaming arrangement entity" as a prime contractor under a contractor team arrangement as defined under specified provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

Date: 2013-06-19
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Commerce
Preventing Conflicts of Interest with Contractors Act - Provides that a contract may not be entered into, and an extension of or option on a contract may not be exercised, with a contractor to conduct a quality review process relating to background investigation fieldwork services or background investigation support services if the contractor is performing the services to be reviewed.

Defines, for purposes of this Act:

 "agency" as an executive agency, a military department, an element of the intelligence community, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), or the Postal Regulatory Commission; "background investigation fieldwork services" as the investigatory fieldwork conducted to determine the eligibility of an individual for logical and physical access to federally-controlled facilities or information systems, suitability or fitness for federal employment, eligibility for access to classified information or to hold a national security sensitive position, or fitness to perform work for or on behalf of the federal government as a contractor or employee, including interviews with individuals who might have relevant knowledge of the individual and reviews of educational and employment records, criminal and other legal records, and credit history; and "quality review process" as performing the final quality review of a background investigation to ensure that investigative, administrative, and other required standards have been met before the completed background investigation is delivered to the adjudicating agency (i.e., the agency that requested the background check and that has final decision-making authority).

Date: 2014-02-27
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Contracting and Tax Accountability Act of 2014 - 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 submit a form: (1) certifying whether the person has a seriously delinquent tax debt, and (2) authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to disclose information limited to describing whether such person has such a debt.

Subjects a person who submits a certification that he or she has a seriously delinquent tax debt, or whose certification that he or she does not have such a debt is demonstrated to be false, to a negative responsibility determination when applying for a federal contract or grant. Provides for: (1) the suspension from the federal procurement process of a person who certifies that he or she has such a debt, and (2) debarment of a person whose certification that he or she does not have such a debt is demonstrated to be false.

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.

Date: 2014-04-10
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Taxation
Women's Small Business Procurement Parity Act - Amends the Small Business Act to revise procurement program requirements for women-owned small businesses.

Authorizes a contracting officer to award a sole source contract under this Act to small businesses owned and controlled by women if each of the businesses is at least 51% owned by one or more women who are economically disadvantaged (and such ownership is determined without regard to any community property law), and if:

 the small business is in an industry in which it is underrepresented, as determined by the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA); the contracting officer determines that it is a responsible contractor; the anticipated award price of the contract, including options, is not more than: (1) $6.5 million, in the case of a contract opportunity assigned a North American Industry Classification System code for manufacturing; or (2) $4 million, in the case of any other contract opportunity; and the contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price. Authorizes a contracting officer to award a sole source contract to a small business owned and controlled by women meeting the same criteria in an industry in which such businesses are substantially underrepresented if the small business also meets specified certification requirements.

Date: 2014-06-17
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Commerce
Modifies design-build selection procedures for civilian and defense contracts for the design and construction of a public building, facility, or work to require the contracting officer to provide written documentation of how more than five finalists in a solicitation for a contract is consistent with the purposes and objectives of the two-phase selection process (a procurement process in which the first phase consists of prequalification or shortlisting and the second phase consists of preparation and submission of complete design-build proposals from the prequalified offerors).

Requires the use of two-phase selection procedures for civilian or defense contracts when a contracting officer determines that the contract has a value of $750,000 or greater, adjusted for inflation. Requires: (1) agencies to report on contracts for which more than five finalists were selected for phase-two requests or for which the contract was awarded without using two-phase selection procedures, and (2) the Comptroller General (GAO) to report on the compliance of executive agencies with design-build contract procedures.

Date: 2014-07-24
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Made in the U.S.A. Act - Prohibits the head of a federal agency from obligating or expending funds or providing financial assistance for projects for the construction, alteration, maintenance, or repair of a public building or public work unless substantially all of the iron, steel, wood products, cement, and manufactured goods used in the project are produced in the United States (Buy American requirements).

Authorizes the head of an agency to waive such prohibition in certain circumstances.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the Build America Bond program, to: (1) extend permanently the authority to issue such bonds and the authority for payments to issuers of such bonds, (2) reduce the bond holder tax credit percentage, and (3) treat as bonds qualified for the tax credit any bond (or series of bonds) issued to refund a qualified bond if certain criteria are met.

Revises Buy American requirements with respect to federal-aid highways, particularly the handling of waiver requests.

Revises similar Buy American requirements with respect to public transportation and Amtrak, particularly rolling stock. Requires the cost of rolling stock components and subcomponents produced in the United States to increase from 60% in FY2015 by 10% annual increments up to 100% for FY2019 and ensuing fiscal years.

Prescribes Buy American requirements for procurement of a facility or equipment under federal aviation programs similar to those for rolling stock.

Requires the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to report annually to Congress on: (1) each project for which a waiver of Buy American requirements was issued; and (2) the country of origin and product specifications for steel, iron, or manufactured goods acquired pursuant to each waiver.

Date: 2014-07-29
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Transportation and public works
No Federal Contracts for Corporate Deserters Act of 2014 - Prohibits an executive agency from awarding a contract (including a defense contract) for the procurement of property or services to: (1) any foreign incorporated entity determined to be an inverted domestic corporation or any subsidiary of such entity, or (2) any joint venture more than 10% of which is held by such an entity or subsidiary.

Directs each agency to include in each contract awarded with a value in excess of $10 million, other than a contract for exclusively commercial items, a clause that prohibits the prime contractor from: (1) awarding a first-tier subcontract with a value greater than 10% of the total prime contract to such an entity or joint venture, or (2) structuring subcontract tiers enabling such entity or joint venture to perform more than 10% of the total value of the prime contract.

Authorizes an agency to waive such requirements for a contract in the interest of national security or if necessary for the efficient or effective administration of federal or federally-funded programs that provide health benefits to individuals. Provides for termination of a contract or suspension or debarment of a contractor in violation of this Act.

Requires a foreign incorporated entity to be treated as an inverted domestic corporation if: (1) the entity acquires, on or after May 8, 2014, substantially all of the properties held by a domestic corporation or substantially all of the assets of, or substantially all of the properties constituting a trade or business of, a domestic partnership; and (2) after the acquisition, either more than 50% of the stock of the entity is held by former shareholders of the domestic corporation or former partners of the domestic partnership, or the management and control of the expanded affiliated group which includes the entity occurs primarily within the United States and such expanded affiliated group has significant domestic business activities. Sets forth an exception for an entity within an expanded affiliated group with substantial business activities in the foreign country in which the entity is created.

Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations for determining cases in which the management and control of an expanded affiliated group is to be treated as occurring primarily within the United States.

Date: 2014-07-30
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Invest in American Jobs Act of 2014 - Revises Buy American requirements with respect to federal-aid highways, capital investment grants to support intercity passenger rail service (rail grants), and Amtrak, particularly the handling of waiver requests.

Revises similar Buy American requirements with respect to public transportation, particularly rolling stock. Requires the cost of rolling stock components and subcomponents produced in the United States to increase from 60% in FY2013 by 10% annual increments up to 100% for FY2017 and ensuing fiscal years. Revises waiver requirements as well to mirror those for federal-aid highways.

Applies the rail grant Buy American requirements under this Act to recipients of rail loans and loan guarantees with respect to railroad rehabilitation and improvement.

Prescribes Buy American requirements for procurement of a facility or equipment under federal aviation programs similar to those for rolling stock.

Requires the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to report annually to Congress on: (1) each project for which a waiver of Buy American requirements was issued; and (2) the country of origin and product specifications for steel, iron, or manufactured goods acquired pursuant to each waiver.

Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to prescribe Buy American requirements for steel, iron, and manufactured goods used in the construction of a public water system.

Adds similar Buy American requirements to the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, with respect to economic development programs, and to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, with respect to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

Amends the Truman-Hobbs Act to prescribe Buy American requirements for steel, iron, and manufactured goods used in the alteration of a bridge over U.S. navigable waters.

Date: 2014-07-31
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Transportation and public works
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.)

Contracting and Tax Accountability Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) Declares it the policy of the U.S. government that no government contracts or grants should be awarded to individuals or companies 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, 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 Department 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 or high risk determination when applying for a federal contract or grant, or to suspension or debarment from the federal procurement process. Authorizes an agency head to waive a suspension or debarment proceeding for a person with a seriously delinquent tax debt upon a written finding of urgent and compelling circumstances significantly affecting the interests of the United States.

(Sec. 5) Defines "seriously delinquent tax debt" as a federal tax liability that has been assessed by the Internal Revenue Service and is collectible by levy or a court proceeding, except a tax debt: (1) that is being paid in a timely manner under an approved installment agreement or an offer-in-compromise, (2) for which a collection due process hearing has been requested or is pending; (3) for which a continuous levy has been issued or agreed to by an applicant for employment, or (4) with respect to which such a levy is released because it has been determined to be an economic hardship to the taxpayer.

(Sec. 6) Makes this Act applicable to contracts and grants awarded on or after 270 days after the enactment date of this Act.

Date: 2015-03-24
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Taxation
Boycott Our Enemies not Israel Act

Requires a revision to the Federal Acquisition Regulation to require a certification from each person that is a prospective government contractor that such person, and any person owned or controlled by such person, is not a boycotting person (a person who, with the intent to comply with or support a boycott against Israel, refuses to do business with or in Israel, with any Israeli national or resident, or with a business concern organized under Israeli law). Debars from eligibility for federal contracts for at least two years any person who submits a false certification.

Date: 2015-03-24
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Government Neutrality in Contracting Act 

(Sec. 3) This bill directs the head of any federal agency that awards or obligates funds for any construction contract, or that awards grants, provides financial assistance, or enters into cooperative agreements for construction projects, to ensure that bid specifications, project agreements, or other controlling documents do not: (1) require or prohibit a bidder, offeror, contractor, or subcontractor from entering into, or adhering to, agreements with a labor organization, with respect to that construction project or another related construction project; or (2) otherwise discriminate against or give preference to such a party because it did or did not become a signatory or otherwise adhere to such an agreement.

The bill also allows exemptions to this rule to avert an imminent threat to public health or safety or to serve national security, as well as additional exemptions for certain projects meeting specified criteria. The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council shall amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation to implement this Act with respect to the applicable federal contracts.

Date: 2015-03-26
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Buy Smarter and Save Act of 2015

Directs the President to establish: (1) an annual government-wide goal to procure goods and services using strategic sourcing, and (2) an annual government-wide goal for savings from the use of strategic sourcing. Defines "strategic sourcing" as a structured and collaborative process of critically analyzing an organization's spending patterns to better leverage its purchasing power, reduce costs, and improve overall value and performance.

Requires the Office of Management and Budget to: (1) issue guidance to executive agencies for implementing the strategic sourcing goals established by this Act, and (2) report on spending for goods and services that was strategically sourced and the extent of the savings realized.

Directs the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Energy, Veterans Affairs, and Health and Human Services, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the General Services Administration, and the Small Business Administration to take certain actions to support strategic sourcing, including establishing department wide-goals and savings targets for strategic sourcing efforts and a strategic sourcing accountability official.

Directs the Comptroller General to: (1) conduct studies on contract utilization fees and on establishing strategic sourcing initiative contract vehicles, and (2) assess and report on the performance of executive agencies in implementing the strategic sourcing goals required by this Act and the amounts saved through the use of strategic sourcing.

Date: 2015-04-13
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
No Federal Contracts for Corporate Deserters Act of 2015

Prohibits an executive agency from awarding a contract (including a defense contract) to: (1) any foreign incorporated entity determined to be an inverted domestic corporation or any subsidiary of such entity, or (2) any joint venture more than 10% of which is held by such an entity or subsidiary.

Directs each agency to include in each contract awarded with a value in excess of $10 million, other than a contract for exclusively commercial items, a clause that prohibits the prime contractor from: (1) awarding a first-tier subcontract with a value greater than 10% of the total prime contract to such an entity or joint venture, or (2) structuring subcontract tiers enabling such entity or joint venture to perform more than 10% of the total value of the prime contract.

Authorizes an agency to waive such requirements for a contract in the interest of national security. Provides for termination of a contract or suspension or debarment of a contractor in violation of this Act.

Requires a foreign incorporated entity to be treated as an inverted domestic corporation if: (1) the entity acquires, on or after May 8, 2014, substantially all of the properties held by a domestic corporation or substantially all of the assets of, or substantially all of the properties constituting a trade or business of, a domestic partnership; and (2) after the acquisition, either more than 50% of the stock of the entity is held by former shareholders of the domestic corporation or former partners of the domestic partnership, or the management and control of the expanded affiliated group which includes the entity occurs primarily within the United States and such expanded affiliated group has significant domestic business activities. Sets forth an exception for an entity within an expanded affiliated group with substantial business activities in the foreign country in which the entity is created.

Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations for determining cases in which the management and control of an expanded affiliated group is to be treated as occurring primarily within the United States.

Date: 2015-04-15
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics