Sponsors (2)
The bill trades a timely, congressionally directed review that could protect national security and improve contracting quality against higher procurement costs for taxpayers, disruption for contractors, and extra administrative work for agencies.
Taxpayers and national security: Congress will receive actionable information about whether the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) procurement method poses risks to national security, enabling potential policy changes to protect security in federal contracting.
Federal procurement officials and agency staff: OMB and agencies will get a timely, formal assessment (within 180 days) of LPTA-related risks to inform sourcing decisions and oversight.
Government contractors and agencies: The review could prompt reforms that de-emphasize lowest-price selection and instead prioritize capability, potentially improving contracting outcomes and mission effectiveness.
Taxpayers: If the review leads to restrictions on LPTA use, agencies may select higher-priced offers for better capability, raising procurement costs and increasing taxpayer spending.
Government contractors: Firms that have relied on winning awards under LPTA could face increased competition or lost business if source-selection rules shift away from lowest-price emphasis.
Federal employees/agency staff: OMB and agency personnel must allocate time and resources to conduct the review and prepare the required report within 180 days, creating additional administrative burden.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Mandates an OMB review of the LPTA procurement method to assess any national security risk and requires a report to Congress within 180 days.
Requires the Office of Management and Budget Director to review federal procurement practices to determine whether the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection method creates any national security risk. The Director must deliver a report with findings to two congressional committees within 180 days of enactment. The review covers both Defense and civilian agencies as defined in statute and is limited to assessing risks associated with FAR 15.101–2; it does not itself change procurement policy or appropriate funds.
Official title: To require the Director of the Office of Management and Budget conduct a review to determine the impact of the lowest price technically acceptable source selection process on national security, and for other purposes.
Introduced January 31, 2025 by Byron Donalds · Last progress March 4, 2025