The Federal Acquisition Act of 1976 and the Role of the General Accounting Office

The Federal Acquisition Act of 1976 would implement recommendations of the Procurement Commission for modernizing and unifying Federal procurement. Features of the act considered significant were the encouragement of greater reliance on Government surveillance. The general objectives of the bill were supported, but there were some concerns. Suggestions were that: (1) some recognition should be given to the necessity for negotiated procurement in some situations; (2) the bill may be too restrictive regarding the use of Government specifications; (3) evaluation of total cost of ownership should not be legislatively required for all items, but should be included in regulations; (4) provisions for waiving the Comptroller General's right of examination of foreign contractors should be reexamined; and (5) sections dealing with waivers of surveillance requirements should be clarified or deleted. The GAO role under procurement legislation is to comment upon request on proposed legislation and regulations and to rule on bid protests arising from individual procurement actions.