In the 113th Congress, a number of proposals were introduced to address longstanding obstacles to efficient and cost-saving procurement of construction services. Among these are the “Design-Build Efficiency and Jobs Act” (H.R. 2750), the “Common Sense Construction Contracting Act of 2013” (H.R. 2751), and the “Security in Bonding Act” (H.R. 776).
The H.R. 2750 limits both single-step design-build procurements and the second-step of two-step design-build to three to five teams to promote greater competition by more qualified competitors.
The H.R. 2751 prohibits federal agencies from using reverse auctions that reduce competition and lower the quality of work.
Lastly, the H.R. 776 limits surety bond fraud by requiring pledges of only legitimate, tangible, and verifiable assets.
This bill was once again introduced in the 114th Congress in the House (H.R. 838). Combined, these bills save valuable taxpayer dollars and ensure better competition for federal contracts.