Procurement Reform:

Opportunities for Change

T-OGC-95-19, Apr 6, 1995

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GAO discussed reforming the government's acquisition system. GAO noted that: (1) federal officials view the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (FASA) as a continuation and not a culmination of acquisition reform efforts; (2) the Department of Defense and other agencies have a number of proposals and initiatives to improve their procurement procedures; (3) in general, the proposals seek to allow industry to offer and government to acquire maximum value for the taxpayer; (4) reforms to simplify the acquisition process include buying commercial products, simplifying acquisition thresholds (SAT) for waivers of government-specific requirements, implementing the Federal Acquisition Computer Network (FACNET) as soon as possible, building longer-term relationships with well-performing contractors, and easing domestic-source restrictions; (5) reforms to ensure selection of the best contractor include limiting the number of competitive range contractors to the top three firms and streamlining the Small Business Administration's 8(a) and certificate of competency programs; and (6) reforms to reduce bid protests include limiting or combining protest forums, expanding preaward debriefings for noncompetitive range bidders, implementing a single statutory standard by which to decide all protest cases, revising cost principles to exclude protest costs under cost contracts, and exempting FACNET acquisitions from the formal protest process.

Status Legend:

More Info
  • Review Pending-GAO has not yet assessed implementation status.
  • Open-Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned, or actions that partially satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.
  • Closed-implemented-Actions that satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.
  • Closed-not implemented-While the intent of the recommendation has not been satisfied, time or circumstances have rendered the recommendation invalid.
    • Review Pending
    • Open
    • Closed - implemented
    • Closed - not implemented

    Matter for Congressional Consideration

    Matter: Congress should consider cutting the link currently in FASA between the implementation of FACNET and the use of the simplified acquisition procedures up to the full dollar limit of SAT.

    Status: Closed - Implemented

    Comments: When we determine what steps the Congress has taken, we will provide updated information.

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