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Acquisition reform recommendations run the gamut
June 16, 2009
By Robert Brodsky
Government Executive
A House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee hearing on Tuesday posed the seemingly simple question: What is the state of federal contracting? As it turns out, it depends on who you ask. For example, Scott Amey, general counsel for the Project On Government Oversight, a Washington watchdog group, said Congress should start appropriating money to GSA so it would no longer have to rely on the fees collected from vendors on the multiple award schedules and governmentwide acquisition contract sales. "This system creates an apparent conflict and perverse incentive to keep costs or prices high," Amey said. "Stated differently, GSA might not be receiving the best prices because the schedule program revenue will be lost." Amey also recommended all contracting actions, including task and delivery orders, should be subject to the Government Accountability Office's contract bid protest process. Currently, only task and delivery orders of more than $10 million are subject to protests. ...
The Government Management, Organization and Procurement Subcommittee invited a host of agency officials, industry leaders, contract attorneys and independent watchdogs to testify on recommendations for strengthening the government procurement system.…
