Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Natural Disaster Fairness in Contracting Act of 2015”.
Natural Disaster Fairness in Contracting Act of 2015
A BILL
To provide for full and open competition for Federal contracts related to natural disaster reconstruction efforts.
Sec. 2 Definitions
In this Act:
Executive agency— The term executive agency has the meaning given the term in section 133 of title 41, United States Code.
Full and open competitive procedures— The term full and open competitive procedures has the meaning given the term full and open competition in section 107 of title 41, United States Code.
Natural disaster reconstruction efforts— The term natural disaster reconstruction efforts means reconstruction efforts undertaken in an area subject to a declaration by the President of a major disaster under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170).
Sec. 3 Competition requirements
In general— Except as provided in subsection (b), the head of an executive agency, in entering into a contract to procure property or services in connection with natural disaster reconstruction efforts, shall comply with the requirements under section 3301 of title 41, United States Code.
Exceptions— The exceptions to the requirement for competitive procedures provided under paragraphs (3), (4), and (7) of section 3304(a) of title 41, United States Code, shall not apply to a contract described in subsection (a).
Sec. 4 Written approval for use of noncompetitive procedures required for certain contracts
Approval required— The head of an executive agency may enter into a contract to procure property or services in connection with natural disaster reconstruction efforts using other than full and open competition only upon the written approval of the President or the President’s designee.
Congressional notification required—
In general— If procedures other than full and open competitive procedures are to be used to enter into a contract described in subsection (a), the head of the executive agency negotiating such contract shall notify the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the standing committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives that have jurisdiction over the executive agency not later than 7 calendar days before the award of the contract.
Justification— The notification under paragraph (1) shall include—
the justification for the use of other than full and open competitive procedures;
a brief description of the contract’s scope;
the amount of the contract;
a discussion of how the contracting agency identified and solicited offers from contractors;
a list of the contractors solicited; and
the justification and approval documents, required under section 3304(e)(1) of title 41, United States Code, upon which the determination of use of procedures other than full and open competitive procedures was based.
Scope of requirements—
Size of contracts— This section shall not apply to contracts of less than $5,000,000.
Applicability— This section shall apply to any extension, amendment, or modification of a contract for the procurement of property or services in connection with natural disaster reconstruction efforts entered into before the date of the enactment of this Act using other than full and open competitive procedures.
Small business exception— This section shall not apply to contracts authorized under the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.).
Sec. 5 Disclosure required
Publication and public availability—
In general— The head of an executive agency that enters into a contract for the procurement of property or services in connection with natural disaster reconstruction efforts through the use of other than full and open competitive procedures shall publish in the Federal Register or Federal Business Opportunities, and otherwise make available to the public not later than 7 calendar days before the date on which the contract is finalized—
the amount of the contract;
a brief description of the scope of the contract;
an explanation of how the executive agency identified, and solicited offers from, potential contractors to perform the contract, and a list of the potential contractors that were issued solicitations for the offers; and
the justification and approval documents, required under section 3304(e)(1) of title 41, United States Code, on which was based the determination to use procedures other than competitive procedures.
Scope of requirements—
Size of contracts— This section shall not apply to contracts of less than $5,000,000.
Applicability— This section shall apply to any extension, amendment, or modification of a contract entered into before the date of the enactment of this Act using other than full and open competitive procedures.
Small business exception— This section shall not apply to contracts authorized under the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.).
Relationship to other disclosure laws— Nothing in this section may be construed as affecting obligations to disclose United States Government information under any other provision of law.
Sec. 6 Contracts entered into under unusual and compelling urgency exception
Requirement for performance within 6-Month period— The head of an executive agency may not rely on the exception under section 3304(a)(2) of title 41, United States Code, to enter into a contract to procure property or services in connection with natural disaster reconstruction efforts using procedures other than competitive procedures unless the contract will be performed within a 6-month period.
Extended notification and disclosure deadlines— The notification and disclosure deadlines under sections 4(b) and 5(a)(1), respectively, shall be 7 calendar days after the date on which a contract described in subsection (a) is finalized.