Federal Procurements: Comments on Proposed Legislation Affecting Federal Procurements

GAO discussed the effects of two legislative proposals on federal procurement. GAO noted that the proposed Federal Property and Administrative Services Authorization Act of 1992 would: (1) improve legislative oversight of the General Services Administration (GSA) by providing for periodic reauthorization of GSA appropriations; (2) make statutory provisions governing civilian agency procurements consistent with provisions for defense and space procurements; (3) clarify the GSA Board of Contract Appeals' authority over automatic data processing equipment procurement protests; (4) provide GAO authority to recommend, but not declare, a successful protester's entitlement to reimbursement for protest costs; and (5) require agencies to provide a requested debriefing to any disappointed bidder when the contract award is not solely based on price. GAO also noted that the proposed Multiple Award Schedule Program Reform Act of 1992 would: (1) clarify the price negotiation aims for schedule contracts; (2) prevent unwarranted information burdens on bidders by limiting the amount of commercial pricing information requested by GSA to the minimum amount necessary to obtain fair and reasonable prices; and (3) provide for an appeal procedure for any bidders dissatisfied with a GSA determination that it is not offering a fair and reasonable price.