HR2066SEP29

TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending September 29, 2006

HR 2066 to establish a Federal Acquisition Service, to replace the General Supply Fund and the Information Technology Fund with an Acquisition Services Fund, and for other purposes.

A good bit of how the Federal government acquires, distributes and disposes of everything from staplers to buildings is the job of the General Services Administration. (GSA) This bill adds an element to GSA called the Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) and promises to be more involved in the acquisition of information technology and general acquisition as well.

There was a time, the bill report noted, when information technology was new enough that a separate ‘service’ was needed to buy, sell, install and maintain the products to various agencies. Technology was handled by the Federal Technology Service that maintained its own bookkeeping. Now, technology is not such a mystery and managing it through a separate ‘service’ sometimes adds confusion to the procurement process. As such, FAS would become a combination of the existing Federal Supply Service charged with buying goods and services for the Federal government and the Federal Technology Service.

The bill funnels a slew of financial assets into the FAS. Reimbursements from personal property or services such as net proceeds from disposing of government property, receipts from carriers for loss or damage to personal property, receipts from fees charged to agencies. The Administrator of the General Services Administration would set new fees charged to government agencies for personal property and non-personal services from the GSA.

A commission would be in charge and the FAS would also be regionally managed by five regional managers also established in this bill.

The use of the Funds to pay for personal services (consulting services) is authorized. If you are fortunate enough to work for the GSA and the FAS wants to retain your ‘unique or highly qualified services’ you could be eligible for a bonus of up to fifty percent of your pay if the FAS thinks you are going to leave. But the bonus is not available if you were appointed by the President with the consent of the Senate, if you are a non-career employee or if not in the competitive service, or because of a need for confidentiality, make policy-determinations or are a policy advocate.

A Senate amendment to the bill provides for some surplus federal property to be donated to historic lighthouses.

The GSA spends $30 billion annually for private sector products and services that are then resold to Federal agencies.

Sponsor: Representative Tom Davis (R-VA-11^th)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote (May 23, 2005) Passed Senate amended by Unanimous Consent (Sept.6, 2006). Passed House by voice vote September 25, 2006

Cost to the taxpayers: “CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 2066 would have no significant effect on the budget and would not affect direct spending or revenues.”

MORE INFORMATION

1. S.AMDT.4905 to H.R.2066 To provide for the disposal of federal surplus property to historic light stations.
Sponsor: Sen Levin, Carl [MI] (introduced 9/6/2006) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 9/6/2006 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 4905 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.