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Bill
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H.R. 5729 — what changed

North Rim Restoration Act

From Introduced in House to Reported in House. 2 sections amended and 2 added between Introduced in House and Reported in House.

Section 1 Short title

changed This Act may be cited as the “North Rim Restoration Act of 2025”.Act”.

Sec. 2 Definitions

added In this Act:

(a)
removed In general— The Secretary is authorized to use emergency acquisition flexibilities under part 18 of title 48, Code of Federal Regulations (and any successor regulations), in contracting for the following services within the covered area:
(1)
removed Forest management or restoration activities carried out in response to the Dragon Bravo Fire.
(2)
removed Rebuilding, planning, development, and design of structures affected by the Dragon Bravo Fire.
(3)
removed Improvements to the grounds and structures.
(4)
removed Recovery efforts.
(b)
removed Process for other services— Unless otherwise provided by law or regulation, the authority granted under subsection (a) does not apply to contracts for services other than those described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (a).
(c)
removed Report— Not later than 180 days after the Secretary begins to use the authorization under subsection (a), and every 180 days thereafter until the date that is 180 days after the date described in subsection (e), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Natural Resources and Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on all expenditures related to the recovery efforts for the Dragon Bravo Fire, including the following:
(1)
removed The expected cost of recovery efforts.
(2)
removed Cost expenditures.
(3)
removed Cost overruns.
(4)
removed Identification of contractors preforming the work associated with the recovery from the Dragon Bravo Fire.
(5)
removed Any affiliations or conflicts of interest between the contractor and the contracting office at the Grand Canyon National Park or the National Park Service.
(6)
removed Any waste fraud and abuse detected during the recovery efforts.
(7)
removed Any contracts that came in under expected expenses.
(8)
removed An estimated time of completion for all projects and full recovery efforts related to the Dragon Bravo Fire.
(9)
removed If an extension is needed to this authority to complete projects associated with the Dragon Bravo Fire.
(d)
removed Extension— If, after the date of the enactment of this Act, a new wildfire ignites within the covered area and impacts recovery efforts related to the Dragon Bravo Fire, the Secretary may request a 12-month extension of the authority granted under subsection (a), subject to congressional approval.
(e)
removed Expiration— The authority granted under subsection (a) shall expire on the date that is the earlier of the following:
(1)
removed 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(2)
removed Recovery efforts within the covered area are complete.
(f)
removed Definitions— In this Act:
(1)
renumbered was (7)(3) Covered Area— The term covered area means the areas within Grand Canyon National Park impacted by the Dragon Bravo Fire.
(2)
renumbered was (7)(4) Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service.

Sec. 3 Emergency contracting authority

added
(a)
added In general— Notwithstanding any requirement for a Presidential emergency or disaster declaration, the Secretary is authorized to use the emergency acquisition flexibilities under part 18 of title 48, Code of Federal Regulations (and any successor regulations), including the increased micro-purchase thresholds, simplified acquisition thresholds, and other higher-level emergency flexibilities, in contracting for the following services within the covered area:
(1)
added Forest management or restoration activities carried out in response to the Dragon Bravo Fire.
(2)
added Rebuilding, planning, development, and design of structures affected by the Dragon Bravo Fire.
(3)
added Improvements to the grounds and structures.
(4)
added Recovery efforts.
(5)
added Any activity listed in section 4(a).
(b)
added Process for other services— Unless otherwise provided by law or regulation, the authority granted under subsection (a) does not apply to contracts for services other than those described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (a).
(c)
added Report— Not later than 180 days after the Secretary begins to use the authorization under subsection (a), and every 180 days thereafter until the date that is 180 days after the date described in subsection (e), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Natural Resources and Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on all expenditures related to the recovery efforts for the Dragon Bravo Fire, including the following:
(1)
added The expected cost of recovery efforts.
(2)
added Cost expenditures.
(3)
added Cost overruns.
(4)
added Identification of contractors preforming the work associated with the recovery from the Dragon Bravo Fire.
(5)
added Any affiliations or conflicts of interest between the contractor and the contracting office at the Grand Canyon National Park or the National Park Service.
(6)
added Any waste, fraud, or abuse detected during the recovery efforts.
(7)
added Any contracts that came in under expected expenses.
(8)
added An estimated time of completion for all projects and full recovery efforts related to the Dragon Bravo Fire.
(9)
added If an extension is needed for this authority to complete projects associated with the Dragon Bravo Fire.
(d)
added Extension— If, after the date of the enactment of this Act, a new wildfire ignites within the covered area and impacts recovery efforts related to the Dragon Bravo Fire, the Secretary may request a 12-month extension of the authority granted under subsection (a), subject to congressional approval.
(e)
added Expiration— The authority granted under subsection (a) shall expire on the date that is the earlier of the following:
(1)
added 7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(2)
added The date on which projects and recovery efforts within the covered area are completed, as determined by the Secretary.

Sec. 4 Limited sole-source procurement authority

added
(a)
added In general— Notwithstanding chapter 33 of title 41, United States Code, or any other provision of law relating to the use of competitive procedures for the procurement of services, supplies, or construction materials and services, subject to a determination made by the Secretary under subsection (b), the Secretary may enter into one or more contracts, on a noncompetitive basis, for the planning, design, repair, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, stabilization, replacement, or operation of assets supporting the recovery and reopening of the Grand Canyon National Park North Rim, including—
(1)
added employee housing and related facilities;
(2)
added water, wastewater, power, communications, and other utility systems;
(3)
added visitor-facing facilities and infrastructure, including lodging, food service, retail, transportation, and associated public-use facilities; and
(4)
added maintenance, administration, and other back-of-house assets necessary for safe and continuous operation of North Rim services.
(b)
added Determination required— The Secretary may utilize the authority provided in subsection (a) if the Secretary determines, in writing, that—
(1)
added the concessioner currently holding a valid concession contract for operations at the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park on the date of enactment of this Act is uniquely positioned to execute one or more procurement contracts identified under subsection (a) due to the concessioner’s current operational responsibilities, site access, integration with existing concession infrastructure, or continuity needs essential to expedited North Rim recovery; and
(2)
added use of noncompetitive procedures under subsection (a) with this concessioner is necessary to ensure public health and safety, protection of park resources, or continuity of essential services.
(c)
added Expiration— The authority granted under subsection (a) shall expire on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
(d)
added Relationship to existing concession contract— Any procurement action conducted or contract awarded under this section shall be considered separate from, and shall not modify, amend, or extend the duration of, or provide any leasehold surrender interest or other benefit, under a concession contract issued under section 101913 of title 54, United States Code, or related authorities.
(e)
added Rule of construction— Nothing in this section shall be construed to—
(1)
added authorize the award of any concession contract or lease without full compliance with applicable concession contracting law; or
(2)
added prevent the Secretary from using competitive procedures if the Secretary determines such procedures to be in the best interest of the United States.