June 14, 2004   SENATE APPROVES COLLINS-LEVIN AMENDMENT GRANTING FEDERAL EMPLOYEES PROTEST RIGHTS IN A-76 COMPETITIONS Included in Defense Bill   WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Senate today approved a measure sponsored by Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Carl Levin (D-MI) to ensure that federal employees will have the right to appeal to the General Accounting Office (GAO) during and after job competitions with private sector contractors. Private sector contractors already have appeal rights. Their measure was included as part of the Department of Defense authorization bill, which is currently under debate in the Senate. In April, the GAO held that federal employees lack standing to file protests with the GAO in A-76 competitions, during which an in-house team of employees may compete with the private sector to provide a particular service or activity. The GAO encouraged legislators to address the issue and to consider amending the Competition in Contracting Act, the law governing the federal government bid protest process. The Collins-Levin legislation would amend the Act along the lines recommended by the GAO. “Our legislation will strengthen the competitive sourcing program by leveling the playing field for all parties,” said Senator Collins. “Providing federal employees with the ability to protest job competition decisions much as the private sector can isn’t about litigation rights; it’s about fairness.” “It is basic fairness that the public side of a public-private competition should have the same appeal rights as the private side of the competition,” Senator Levin said. “Our amendment will take an important step in providing that fairness.” Under the legislation, either the Agency Tender Official (ATO) or the representative chosen by the federal employees could file a protest with GAO on behalf of the employees.   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 June 2004 Press Releases   June 23 - Sensitive Passenger Data from at Least 8 Airlines and Reservation Services Provided to Companies Working With TSA   June 17 - Senators Collins, Wyden Introduce Legislation to Protect Civil Liberties, Civil Rights   June 17 - Senator Collins Calls for Greater Protections to Ensure That Prescription Drugs Purchased Over the Internet Are Safe   June 15 - Senator Collins Holds Hearing to Assess Global Efforts to Combat Terrorism Financing   June 14 current Press Release   June 9 - GAO: Pentagon Wasted $100 Million on Unused Airline Tickets   June 2 - Committee Approves Collins-Carper Comprehensive Bill to Ensure Future Viability of U.S. Postal Service   June 2 - Committee Approves Senator Collins’ Bill to Improve Federal Support for Local Emergency Medical Services   June 2 - Sen. Collins’ Committee Releases New Staff Report on ULLICO Insider Stock Deals   June 2 - Committee Approves Major Postal Service Reform Bill
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