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Title XIV—Services Acquisition Reform

The Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003 (SARA)

Public Law 108-136

House Conference Report 108-354

SEC. 1414. ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING ACQUISITION WORKFORCE.

The Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of General Services, and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, shall develop and implement a plan to ensure that the Federal Government maintains the necessary capability with respect to the acquisition of architectural and engineering services to--

(1) ensure that Federal Government employees have the expertise to determine agency requirements for such services;

(2) establish priorities and programs (including acquisition plans);

(3) establish professional standards;

(4) develop scopes of work; and

(5) award and administer contracts for such services.

The House bill contained a provision (sec. 1414) that would require the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of General Services, and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, to develop and implement a plan to ensure that the Federal Government maintains the necessary capability to contract effectively for the performance of architectural and engineering services.

The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.

The Senate recedes.

House Report 108-117, Part 1

The section would provide that the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of General Services and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management develop and implement a plan to assure that the federal government maintains a core in-house architectural and engineering capability to ensure that it has the capability to effectively contract for the performance of architectural and engineering services.