Sec. 2. Congressional findings
192 words·~1 min read·
/bill/114/s/1526/is/section-2·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Congress makes the following findings: The acquisition procedures that are often used effectively to procure products and other forms of services are not always appropriate for procurement of design and construction services. Federal procurement officials often adopt contracting techniques from the private sector and have used those techniques effectively to procure products and services. Design-build is a procurement technique Federal officials have adopted from the private sector that has worked well for procurement of design and construction services.
The current statutory framework for design-build could benefit from legislative refinement. Reverse auctions are another procurement technique Federal officials have adopted from the private sector and used successfully to award contracts for the purchase of products that are commercially equivalent to commodities. Despite their success in other contexts, reverse auctions are generally inappropriate for procurement of design and construction services, given the unique nature of each such project.
To ensure payment protection for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers working on Federal construction projects, bonds backed by individual sureties must be placed in the care and custody of the Federal Government and be supported by assets that are real, sufficient, verifiable, and readily convertible into cash.