zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
American Jobs Matter Act of 2011 - Requires an executive agency to state in a solicitation for competitive proposals that the agency may consider information that the offeror may include on the effects awarding the contract to the offeror would have on employment within the United States (jobs impact statement). Allows such statement to include a guarantee that jobs created or retained in the United States will not be moved outside the United States after award of the contract. Requires each agency to: (1) assess, annually, the accuracy of such a statement submitted by an offeror awarded a contract; (2) submit an annual report on the frequency of use of such statements in evaluating competitive proposals; and (3) track the number of jobs created or retained during the performance of a contract awarded to an offeror that submitted such a statement. Authorizes an agency to evaluate whether a contractor should be proposed for debarment if the number of jobs that the agency estimates will be created based on such statement significantly exceeds the number created or retained. Sets forth analogous provisions for defense contracts. Requires revision of the Federal Acquisition Regulation to implement the amendments made by this Act.

Date: 2011-04-04
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Federal Acquisition Improvement Act of 2011 - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to provide that the Associate Administrator for Acquisition Workforce Programs shall: (1) be chosen on the basis of demonstrated knowledge and expertise in acquisition, human capital, and management; (2) be located in the Office of Federal Procurement Policy; and (3) implement acquisition workforce programs. Establishes a Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) and enumerates its purposes with respect to the development of a professional acquisition workforce. Requires: (1) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Administrator of General Services (GSA) to provide FAI with the necessary budget resources and authority to support government-wide training standards and certification requirements necessary to enhance the mobility and career opportunities of the federal acquisition workforce, and (2) the GSA Administrator to provide FAI with amounts from the acquisition training fund sufficient to meet the annual budget for FAI requested by the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy. Directs: (1) the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy, acting through FAI, to provide and update government-wide training standards and certification requirements; and (2) all federal civilian agency acquisition internship or acquisition training programs to follow guidelines provided by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy to ensure consistent training standards necessary to develop uniform core competencies throughout the federal government. Directs the GSA Administrator to manage the acquisition workforce training fund through FAI to support FAI activities and to ensure that funds collected are only used for such purposes.

Date: 2011-04-07
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Local Disaster Contracting Fairness Act of 2011- Prohibits the head of an executive agency from entering into an agreement for debris removal or demolition services in connection with natural disaster reconstruction efforts unless the agreement specifies that: (1) all of the work under the contract will be performed by the prime contractor or one or more subcontractors at one tier under the contract; (2) any work performed under the contract by subcontractors will be performed by local subcontractors, except to the extent that local subcontractors are not available to perform any such work; (3) the prime contractor will act as the project manager or construction manager for the contract; and (4) the prime contractor has primary responsibility for managing all work under the contract and will be paid a certain percentage of the overall value of the contract as sole compensation for assuming the risk associated with such responsibility. Requires the agency head, in entering into an agreement for debris removal or demolition services in connection with natural disaster reconstruction efforts, to give preference in the source selection process to each offeror who certifies that any work that is to be performed under the contract by subcontractors will be performed by local subcontractors.

Date: 2011-05-05
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Emergency management
Construction Quality Assurance Act of 2011 - 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: 2011-05-05
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Arbitration Fairness Act of 2011 - Declares that no predispute arbitration agreement shall be valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of an employment, consumer, or civil rights dispute. Declares, further, that the validity and enforceability of an agreement to arbitrate shall be determined by a court, under federal law, rather than an arbitrator, irrespective of whether the party resisting arbitration challenges the arbitration agreement specifically or in conjunction with other terms of the contract containing such agreement. Exempts from this Act arbitration provisions in a contract between an employer and a labor organization or between labor organizations. Denies to any such arbitration provision, however, the effect of waiving the right of an employee to seek judicial enforcement of a right arising under the U.S. Constitution, a state constitution, a federal or state statute, or related public policy.

Date: 2011-05-12
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Law
American Job Builders Tax Reform Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase from $10 million to $40 million the gross receipts threshold for determining whether a small contractor may adopt an accounting method for reporting income from a construction contract other than the percentage of completion method; (2) allow an annual inflation adjustment to such increased $40 million threshold amount, beginning after 2011; and (3) exempt construction contracts from alternative minimum tax rules for reporting income from long-term contracts under the percentage of completion accounting method.

Date: 2011-05-25
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Taxation
Keeping Politics Out of Federal Contracting Act of 2011 - Prohibits the head of an executive agency from: (1) requiring a contractor to submit political information as part of a soliticitation, request for bid, request for proposal, or any other communiction in connection with the award of a contract for procurement of property or services or during the course of the contract performance until the completion of a contract; (2) using such political information as a factor or consideration in the source selection process used to award a competitive or non-competitive contract; or (3) including such political information in a contracting past performance database.  Defines "political information" as information relating to political spending, including any payment for an electioneering communication, by a contractor or persons related to such contractor to a candidate for federal office, a political commitee, a political party, or to a third party entity for political purposes.

Date: 2011-05-26
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Civilian Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (CEJA) of 2011 - 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). Sets forth the crimes under federal law that are covered by this Act. Exempts an authorized intelligence activity that is carried out by or on behalf of any element of the intelligence community and conducted in accordance with law. 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. 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 of two or more joint offenders; or (2) the offender is accompanying, or that any one of two or more joint offenders is accompanying. Requires the statute of limitations for an offense under this Act to be computed without regard to any time the alleged offender is outside the United States.

Date: 2011-06-03
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Veterans Employment Promotion Act - Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish and maintain an Internet website to publicly disclose information concerning the number of veterans employed under federal contracts of $100,000 or more for the procurement of personal property and nonpersonal services.

Date: 2011-06-21
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Buy American Improvement Act of 2011 - Requires the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy: (1) to promulgate regulations to standardize and simplify federal agency compliance with, and reporting on, Buy American requirements; (2) in developing Buy American  guidelines, to consider any significant decrease in U.S. employment resulting from the granting of waivers of Buy American requirements to be inconsistent with the public interest; and (3) to impose certain notice requirements on federal agency heads after receiving a request for a waiver and to require publication of the determination for why a waiver was granted. Revises Buy American reporting requirements to require: (1) federal agencies to report to the Administrator, for the period FY2011-FY2016, on the amount of their acquisitions of articles, materials, or supplies purchased from entities outside the United States; and (2) the Administrator to submit to Congress a consolidated report on all agency reports received and make such report publicly available on a web site. Imposes limits on waiver determinations, including that a project cost determination will not be deemed unreasonable unless compliance with Buy American requirements causes an increase of overall project costs by more than 25%. Defines "substantially all" for purposes of Buy American requirements to mean that articles, materials, or supplies shall be treated as made substantially all from articles, materials, or supplies mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States if the cost of the domestic components of such items exceeds 75% of the total cost of all such items. Requires the Comptroller General to report on the extent to which, in FY2007-FY2011, articles, materials, or supplies acquired by the federal government were manufactured, mined, or produced outside of the United States.

Date: 2011-08-01
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Ethical Shipping Inspections Act of 2011 - Amends federal shipping inspection laws to prohibit the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating from delegating (and to require revocation of an existing delegation of) certain inspection, certification, and related services to a foreign classification society if the Secretary of State determines that such society provides comparable services: (1) in Iran, North Korea, North Sudan, or Syria; or (2) for the government of such countries.

Date: 2011-09-21
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Adjusting Davis-Bacon for Inflation Act - Increases from $2,000 to $50,000 the contract threshold requiring the locally prevailing wage rate to be paid to various classes of laborers and mechanics working under federally-financed or federally-assisted contracts for construction, alteration, and repair of public buildings or public works (Davis-Bacon Act).

Date: 2011-10-06
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Overseas Contractor Reform Act - Requires any person found to be in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 to be proposed for debarment from any federal contract or grant within 30 days after judgment of such violation becomes final. Authorizes the head of a federal agency to: (1) waive such requirement for a federal contract or grant and to report such waiver to Congress within 30 days with a justification, and (2) exempt from debarment any person who voluntarily reports a violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977. Declares that it is U.S. government policy that no government contracts or grants should be awarded to individuals or companies who violate that Act after the enactment of this Act.

Date: 2011-12-07
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Full Disclosure in Federal Contracting Act - Requires federal agencies to include in a solicitation for a federal contract for the procurement of goods a statement of whether Buy American requirements apply, the reasons why such requirements do not apply, a statement of whether goods from foreign countries would be acceptable as end products to fulfill contract requirements, and a list of all the foreign countries whose goods would be acceptable as end products.

Date: 2012-02-15
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Purchasing American Generates Employment Act - Prohibits a federal department or agency from using funds to procure any article or item of paper or paper products that are not grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the United States. Allows an exemption from such requirement: (1) if a department or agency head determines that satisfactory quality and sufficient quantity of such paper or paper products cannot be procured as and when needed at U.S. market prices; (2) for procurements outside the United States in support of combat or contingency operations or by vessels in foreign waters; and (3) for items purchased for resale in commissaries, exchanges, or certain facilities operated by the Department of Defense (DOD).

Date: 2012-06-07
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to give a preference to a local (within a 60-mile radius) contractor in the award of a contract for: (1) the construction or maintenance of a VA facility, or (2) services provided to a particular VA facility or campus. Requires the Secretary, upon awarding such a contract to a non-local contractor, to publish a public explanation of why a local contractor was not awarded the contract. Includes veterans who are local contractors within a required VA priority for awarding contracts to small businesses.

Date: 2012-06-21
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Employee Verification Act - Amends the the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to require federal contractors and subcontractors to participate in the E-Verify Program. Exempts specified federal procurement contracts from E-Verify coverage. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure that E-Verify is applied to: (1) all persons hired during the term of the grant, loan, loan guarantee, or cooperative agreement by the recipient of the federal benefit to perform employment duties within the United States; and (2) all employees assigned by the recipient of the federal benefit to perform work within the United States under the project or activity funded by the grant, loan, loan guarantee, or cooperative agreement. Makes E-Verify permanent.

Date: 2012-07-12
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Immigration
GSA Path to Privatization Act - Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to: (1) establish and conduct a pilot program to be known as the Federal Real Property Management Privatization Pilot Program to allow certain federal agencies to contract with the private sector to plan, acquire, manage, and dispose of leased federal property; (2) develop a management plan for such program; (3) issue guidance to federal agencies on participation in the program; and (4) issue a solicitation for contracts with the private sector for services under the program. Terminates the program 15 years after the enactment of this Act.

Date: 2012-08-01
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Oversight and Accountability in Wartime Contracting Act of 2012 - Directs the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to: (1) limit contracts entered into in connection with an overseas contingency operation (OCO) to three years for competitively bid contracts and one year for non-competitively bid contracts and competitively bid contracts for which only one offer was received; (2) limit any contract for services in connection with an OCO to a single tier of subcontractors; and (3) require contractors, subcontractors, and related entities to consent to personal jurisdiction in covered civil actions (e.g., civil actions alleging rape or serious bodily injury, wrongful death, or breach of contract) involving overseas contracts valued at not less than $1 million. Requires the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to develop a strategy for ensuring that timely, accurate, and complete information on contractor performance is included in past performance databases used by executive agencies for making source selection decisions. Requires the Secretaries of Defense (DOD) and State, and the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to certify to specified congressional committees that a country for which funds have been appropriated for a capital project with an estimated value in excess of $1 million has the capability (in both financial and human resources) to effectively maintain and utilize the project. Establishes offices to oversee contingency contracting in DOD, the Department of State, and USAID. Requires the Inspectors General of DOD, the Department of State, and USAID to review and evaluate noncompetitive contracts and one-offer contracts and to submit annual reports on such contracts to specified committees of Congress. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) exclude from the gross income of DOD civilian employees compensation for active service in a combat zone, and (2) allow such employees a reduced estate tax rate and an exemption from the excise tax on local and toll telephone service. Directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with certain federal officials, to submit to specified congressional committees a report on the success of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. Extends through FY2013 the annual reporting requirement of the Secretary of Defense on the plan for sustaining Afghanistan security forces.

Date: 2012-08-07
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2011- Repeals provisions of the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 requiring federal, state, and local governmental entities to withhold 3% of payments due to vendors providing goods and services to such entities.

Date: 2011-01-25
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Taxation
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: 2011-01-25
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Natural Disaster Fairness in Contracting Act of 2011- Requires agencies, in entering into a contract to procure property or services in connection with natural disaster reconstruction efforts, to use specified competitive procedures. Allows agencies to enter into a contract to procure property or services in connection with such reconstruction efforts using other than full and open competition only upon the written approval of the President or the President's designee. Requires congressional notification when procedures other than full and open competitive procedures are to be used. Instructs agencies that enter into a contract for the procurement of property or services in connection with such reconstruction efforts through the use of other than full and open competitive procedures to publish in the Federal Register or Federal Business Opportunities and otherwise make available to the public specified information concerning the contract seven days before it is finalized. Permits the use of noncompetitive procedures by agencies when: (1) a contract will be performed within a six-month period; and (2) the need for the property or services is of such an unusual and compelling urgency that the government would otherwise be seriously injured.

Date: 2011-01-25
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Emergency management
Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2011- Repeals the provision of the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 requiring federal, state, and local governmental entities to withhold 3% of payments due to vendors providing goods and services to such entities. Rescinds permanently $39 billion of appropriated but unobligated discretionary funds. Exempts unobligated funds of the Department of Defense (DOD) or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to determine and identify from which appropriation accounts such rescissions shall apply and report to the Secretary of the Treasury and Congress on such rescissions.

Date: 2011-01-25
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Taxation
Protect Taxpayers From ACORN Act - Prohibits any federal contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or other form of agreement from being awarded to, any federal funds in any other form from being provided to, or any federal employee or contractor from promoting, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) and any ACORN-related affiliate. Requires the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation to carry out provisions of this Act relating to contracts.

Date: 2011-01-25
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
No Contracting with the Enemy Act of 2011 - Requires the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to prohibit the awarding of a federal contract to an enemy of the United States and to provide that any such contract shall be null and void and may be immediately terminated or rescinded. Extends similar prohibitions to subcontracts. Defines "enemy of the United States" as any person or organization determined by the Secretary of Defense or State to be hostile to U.S. forces or interests or providing support to any person or organization hostile to U.S. forces or interests during the time of a declared war, peacekeeping operation, or other military or contingency operation.

Date: 2011-02-14
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Federal Acquisition Institute Improvement Act of 2011 - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to provide that the Associate Administrator for Acquisition Workforce Programs shall: (1) be chosen on the basis of demonstrated knowledge and expertise in acquisition, human capital, and management; (2) be located in the Office of Federal Procurement Policy; and (3) implement acquisition workforce programs. Establishes a Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) and enumerates its purposes with respect to the development of a professional acquisition workforce. Requires: (1) the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy to recommend to the Administrator of General Services (GSA) sufficient budget resources and authority for the FAI to support government-wide training standards and certification requirements necessary to enhance the mobility and career opportunities of the federal acquisition workforce, and (2) the GSA Administrator to provide FAI with amounts from the acquisition training fund sufficient to meet the annual budget for FAI requested by the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy. Directs: (1) the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy, acting through FAI, to provide and update government-wide training standards and certification requirements; and (2) all federal civilian agency acquisition internship or acquisition training programs to follow guidelines provided by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy to ensure consistent training standards necessary to develop uniform core competencies throughout the federal government. Directs the GSA Administrator to manage the acquisition workforce training fund through FAI to support FAI activities and to ensure that funds collected are only used for such purposes.

Date: 2011-04-07
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 or performance 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 to carry out a study, in conjunction with the Comptroller General, to evaluate the activities carried out in each agency.

Date: 2011-04-12
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Requires the Defense Commissary Agency (DCA) to operate an enhanced commissary store (store) at Naval Air Station, Brunswick, Maine, and authorizes the DCA to operate a store at a military installation designated for closure or realignment under a defense base closure law. Allows such stores to sell, in addition to regularly-permitted merchandise, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, and items in such other merchandise categories as the Secretary of Defense may authorize. Allows the Secretary to retain sale profits to offset the cost of store operation.

Date: 2011-05-23
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Domestic Fuel for Enhancing National Security Act of 2011 - Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 and federal defense provisions to extend to 15 the number of years that a federal or Department of Defense (DOD) multiyear contract may be entered into in the case of the purchase of advanced biofuel. (Under current law, federal and DOD multiyear procurement contracts are limited to a five-year period.)

Date: 2011-05-25
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Keeping Politics Out of Federal Contracting Act of 2011 - Prohibits the head of an executive agency from: (1) requiring a contractor to submit political information as part of a solicitation, request for bid, request for proposal, or any other communication in connection with the award of a contract for procurement of property or services, during the course of the contract performance, or at any time prior to contract completion and final contract closeout; (2) using such political information as a factor or consideration in the source selection process used to award a competitive or non-competitive contract or in making any decision associated with the modification of a contract or the exercise of a contract option; or (3) including such political information in a contracting past performance database or any database designed to provide information to a contracting officer for purposes of supporting a responsibility determination.  Defines "political information" as information relating to political spending, including any payment for an electioneering communication, by a contractor or persons related to such contractor to a candidate for federal office, a political committee, a political party, or to a third party entity for political purposes. Provides that nothing in this Act shall be construed as: (1) waiving, superseding, restricting, or limiting the application of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 or preventing federal regulatory or law enforcement agencies from collecting or receiving information authorized by law; or (2) precluding the Defense Contract Audit Agency or other auditor from assessing and reviewing information to identify unallowable costs and administering cost principles.

Date: 2011-05-26
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Fair Arbitration Act of 2011 - Requires a contract containing an arbitration clause, in order to be binding on the parties, to: (1) have a heading "ARBITRATION CLAUSE" printed in bold, capital letters; (2) state explicitly whether participation in arbitration is mandatory or optional; (3) identify a source that a consumer or employee can contact for additional information regarding the arbitration program; and (4) provide notice that all parties retain the right to resolve a dispute in a small claims court for a claim of $50,000 or less. Entitles each party under arbitration to: (1) a competent, neutral arbitrator and independent, neutral administration of the dispute; (2) representation by an attorney or other representative at such party's expense; (3) a fair arbitration hearing; (4) a face-to-face hearing; (5) the right to present evidence and cross examine witnesses; (6) a written explanation of the basis for the arbitrator's decision; and (7) the right to opt out of binding arbitration and into the small claims court (for claims of $50,000 or less). Prescribes procedures for complaints by any party of denial of rights by the other party or the arbitrator.

Date: 2011-06-13
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Law
Strengthening Manufacturing and Rebuilding Transit Act of 2011 or SMART Act - Requires the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to give preference to the award of discretionary or competitive grants, loans, loan guarantees, and lines of credit to transportation infrastructure projects, including the purchase of transit vehicle rolling stock, rail, and supporting equipment, in which manufactured goods to be purchased have a domestic content percentage that: (1) exceeds applicable federal requirements; and (2) in the case of rolling stock, is consistent with industry-recognized standards, if available. Directs the Secretary to establish a centralized website that provides rules and guidance, waiver notices, and agency actions of the domestic content (Buy America) standards for DOT federal-aid programs. Requires the Secretary to subject to public notice and comment any request for waiver, and to publication in the Federal Register and notification to Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of any waiver, of Buy America requirements involving: (1) public transportation projects, (2) AMTRAK acquisition and maintenance of equipment and facilities, and (3) intercity passenger rail service corridor capital assistance projects. Directs the DOT Inspector General to report annually to Congress on acquisitions funded by federal transportation infrastructure investments that do not comply with Buy American requirements.

Date: 2011-06-15
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Transportation and public works
American Jobs Matter Act of 2011 - Requires an executive agency to state in a solicitation for competitive proposals that the agency may consider information that the offeror may include on the effects awarding the contract to the offeror would have on employment within the United States (jobs impact statement). Allows such statement to include a guarantee that jobs created or retained in the United States will not be moved outside the United States after award of the contract. Requires each agency to: (1) assess, annually, the accuracy of such a statement submitted by an offeror awarded a contract; (2) submit an annual report on the frequency of use of such statements in evaluating competitive proposals; and (3) track the number of jobs created or retained during the performance of a contract awarded to an offeror that submitted such a statement. Authorizes an agency to evaluate whether a contractor should be proposed for debarment if the number of jobs that the agency estimates will be created based on such statement significantly exceeds the number created or retained. Sets forth analogous provisions for defense contracts. Requires revision of the Federal Acquisition Regulation to implement the amendments made by this Act.

Date: 2011-07-13
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2011 - Repeals the provision in the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 requiring federal, state, and local governmental entities to withhold 3% of payments due to vendors providing goods and services to such entities. Rescinds permanently $30 billion of appropriated but unobligated discretionary funds.  Exempts unobligated funds of the Department of Defense (DOD) or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to determine and identify from which appropriation accounts such rescissions shall apply and report to the Secretary of the Treasury and Congress on such rescissions.

Date: 2011-10-17
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Taxation
Authorizes the Chief of the Forest Service to award certain contracts for fire suppression air tankers earlier than the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date of a required notification.

Date: 2012-06-04
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Afghanistan Contractor Accountability Act of 2012 - Requires the head of an executive agency that fails to respond to a covered final audit report issued by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, or that responds with a non-concur or partial concur response, to report to Congress with an explanation of the failure to respond or the non-concur or partial concur response.  Defines "covered final audit report" as a final audit report issued by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction that includes a recommendation for an executive agency to seek reimbursement for failure by a contractor or subcontractor to successfully complete a construction contract due to poor contractor performance, cost-overruns, or other reasons that would, if implemented, result in at least $500,000 in savings.

Date: 2012-08-02
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Buy Fairly Trade Goods Act of 2012 - Directs the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation to: (1) prohibit executive agencies from procuring imported merchandise subject to an antidumping or countervailing duty order, and (2) require that the terms of a contract or other agreement entered into between an agency and energy provider prohibit the provider from use of such merchandise in the performance of the contract or agreement. Allows the President to waive such requirement if it is in the U.S. national security interests. Requires the Council to ensure that such amendments are consistent with U.S. obligations under any international agreements.

Date: 2012-09-21
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 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.

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: 2013-01-29
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Protecting Americans Abroad Act - Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 to allow the Department of State to use a best-value contracting method in awarding local guard or protective service contracts in high risk areas abroad under the diplomatic security program.

Date: 2013-02-14
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: International affairs
Equal Standards in Hiring Americans Act - Provides that the proposed rule published by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs of the Department of Labor in the Federal Register on December 9, 2011, relating to affirmative action and nondiscrimination obligations of contractors and subcontractors regarding individuals with disabilities, and any subsequent rule that is substantially the same, shall have no force or effect unless the Secretary of Labor certifies to Congress that each office and division within the Department of Labor is complying with the requirements of such rule.

Date: 2013-02-15
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Contracting and Tax Accountability Act of 2013 - (Sec. 2) States that it is the policy of the U.S. government that no government contracts or grants should be awarded to individuals or business entities 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 in an amount greater than the simplified acquisition threshold (i.e., $150,000) to require each person submitting a bid or proposal to: (1) certify that such person does not have a seriously delinquent tax debt, and (2) authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to disclose information limited to describing whether such person has a seriously delinquent tax debt.

Requires the head of any executive agency: (1) in evaluating any offer received in response to an agency solicitation for bids or proposals for a contract, to consider a certification that the offeror has a seriously delinquent tax debt to be definitive proof that the offeror is not a responsible source to do business with the federal government; and (2) to initiate a suspension or debarment proceeding against an offeror or a grant applicant after receiving an offer for a contract or grant application that contains a certification that such person has a seriously delinquent tax debt, or after receiving information from the Secretary that a submitted certification is false. Allows a waiver of such debarment requirement if an agency head certifies in writing urgent and compelling circumstances significantly affecting the interests of the United States.

(Sec. 4) Requires the head of any executive agency that offers a grant in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold amount to require each grant applicant to: (1) certify that the applicant does not have a seriously delinquent tax debt, and (2) authorize the Secretary to disclose information limited to describing whether such a applicant has a seriously delinquent tax debt. Requires the agency head, in evaluating a grant application, to consider a certification that the grant applicant has a seriously delinquent tax debt to be definitive proof that the applicant is high-risk, requiring enhanced oversight.

Requires the revision of the Federal Acquisition Regulation to incorporate requirements set forth in this Act relating to responsibility determinations and debarment for offerors or grant applicants.

(Sec. 5) Defines "seriously delinquent tax debt" as an outstanding federal 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.

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

Date: 2013-02-28
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Taxation
Freedom from Government Competition Act of 2013 - 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, or (3) 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
American Jobs Matter Act of 2013 - Requires an executive agency to state in a solicitation for competitive proposals that the agency may consider information that the offeror may include on the effects awarding the contract to the offeror would have on employment within the United States (jobs impact statement). Allows such statement to include a guarantee that jobs created or retained in the United States will not be moved outside the United States after award of the contract.

Requires each agency to: (1) assess, annually, the accuracy of such a statement submitted by an offeror awarded a contract; (2) submit an annual report on the frequency of use of such statements in evaluating competitive proposals; and (3) track the number of jobs created or retained during the performance of a contract awarded to an offeror that submitted such a statement. Authorizes an agency to evaluate whether a contractor should be proposed for debarment if the number of jobs that the agency estimates will be created based on such statement significantly exceeds the number created or retained.

 Sets forth analogous provisions for defense contracts.

Requires revision of the Federal Acquisition Regulation to implement the amendments made by this Act.

Date: 2013-03-21
Topic: Government Operations (Procurement & Contractors)
Subject: Government operations and politics