FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PSC Applauds Committee Passage of the “Promoting Value Based Procurement Act”
Bill would prevent improper use of LPTA for certain services in civilian agencies |
Arlington, V.A. (Sept. 13, 2017) - PSC welcomed today’s House Oversight and Government Reform Committee passage of the “Promoting Value Based Procurement Act of 2017” (
H.R. 3019). This legislation would prevent improper use of lowest-price technically-acceptable (LPTA) evaluation factors for complex professional or IT services in the civilian agencies.
“While LPTA has a role in the acquisition toolbox, the default-to-the-price bottom is particularly ill-advised for professional, knowledge-based, and IT services,” said Alan Chvotkin, PSC’s Executive Vice President and Counsel. “Taxpayers benefit when the government has the flexibility to obtain the best value from a contract and when innovative solutions can be leveraged to improve outcomes and mission results.”
This legislation builds on provisions in the FY17 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that limited LPTA for procurements with well-defined requirements and objectives in the Department of Defense, which PSC strongly supported. The “Promoting Value Based Procurement Act,” as amended by the Committee, would apply similar criteria to civilian agencies’ procurements.
“PSC applauds the Committee leadership for prioritizing this common-sense bipartisan legislation and thanks the sponsors, Rep. Mark Meadows and Rep. Don Beyer, for introducing this bill, and Rep. Gerry Connolly and Rep. Rob Wittman for their original co-sponsorship,” Chvotkin continued. “We look forward to working with the House leadership and Senate counterparts to enact strong incentives that encourage value-based procurement policies government-wide.”
PSC, the voice of the government technology and professional services industry, sent a
letter to Reps. Meadows and Beyer on June 22 expressing appreciation for the bill introduction.
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About PSC: PSC is the voice of the government technology and professional services industry. PSC’s more than 400 member companies represent small, medium and large businesses that provide federal agencies with services of all kinds, including information technology, engineering, logistics, facilities management, operations and maintenance, consulting, international development, scientific, social, environmental services, and more. Together, the trade association’s members employ hundreds of thousands of Americans in all 50 states. Follow PSC on Twitter at
@PSCSpeaks. To learn more, visit
www.pscouncil.org.