Critics say contracting bill could do harm

More oversight will not correct the deep cause of the government’s contracting problems, which is a shortage of qualified federal contracting officials, some government and industry critics say.

Opponents of a contracting reform bill that the House passed March 15 urged lawmakers to pay more attention to the government’s understaffed contracting workforce. With the government struggling to retain acquisition employees and fill empty positions, the Democratic-sponsored Accountability in Contracting Act would add more restrictions that could hinder recruitment, said Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.), the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s ranking member.

Committee Chairman Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) introduced the contracting legislation, which mainly targets no-bid contracts. “Members are starting to ask what went wrong and to insist on accountability,” he said.

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