Safe and Smart Federal Purchasing Act

Key Points

• Congress is requiring a review of how the government picks companies for federal contracts. Currently, many agencies use a process that automatically chooses the lowest-priced bid as long as it meets the basic requirements.
• The Office of Management and Budget will investigate whether this "cheapest is best" approach has put national security at risk. They will look at buying practices across both military and civilian government agencies to see if low-cost contracts have led to safety or security gaps.
• A report on the findings must be delivered to Congress within 180 days of the bill becoming law. This study could eventually change how the government spends billions of dollars on everything from technology to office supplies, potentially prioritizing quality and security over the lowest price.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.