Federal Manager's Daily Report

Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Susan Collins,

R-Maine, and Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member

Carl Levin, D-Mich., have introduced legislation extending a

ppeal rights to federal employees during and after competitions

with private sector contractors.


GAO had determined in April that it did not have the authority

to hear protests from federal employees in such A-76 competitions.


“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,” said a

committee statement.


“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.


The legislation would extend protest rights on behalf of federal

employees to the Agency Tender Official and a representative

selected by the affected federal officials — referred

to as the most efficient organization. Under the

proposal, either one could file a protest with GAO.