Government Procurement: More Hassles Ahead?

Larry Allen, leader of the government contractor association Coalition for Government Procurement, warned small-business executives that unfavorable legislation could soon be in the offing for those wanting to sell to the federal government. He pointed to legislation written by House Government Reform Chairman Henry Waxman (Accountability in Contracting Act) which passed the House and which was highly regulatory in nature. An alternative bill by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) is considered more palatable by contractors; nevertheless, some provisions in the Collins bill are still considered bothersome.

In times of deficits and elections, procurement procedures are going to be an easy way to score political points. With taxpayer monies at stake, a reasonable compromise must be found between protecting taxpayers from waste and making selling to the federal government worth the hassle.