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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. 1422. CHIEF ACQUISITION OFFICERS COUNCIL.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNCIL- The Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 403 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 16 the following new section:

`SEC. 16A. CHIEF ACQUISITION OFFICERS COUNCIL.

`(a) ESTABLISHMENT- There is established in the executive branch a Chief Acquisition Officers Council.

`(b) MEMBERSHIP- The members of the Council shall be as follows:

`(1) The Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget, who shall act as Chairman of the Council.

`(2) The Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy.

`(3) The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics.

`(4) The chief acquisition officer of each executive agency that is required to have a chief acquisition officer under section 16 and the senior procurement executive of each military department.

`(5) Any other senior agency officer of each executive agency, appointed by the head of the agency in consultation with the Chairman, who can effectively assist the Council in performing the functions set forth in subsection (e) and supporting the associated range of acquisition activities.

`(c) LEADERSHIP; SUPPORT- (1) The Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy shall lead the activities of the Council on behalf of the Deputy Director for Management.

`(2)(A) The Vice Chairman of the Council shall be selected by the Council from among its members.

`(B) The Vice Chairman shall serve a 1-year term, and may serve multiple terms.

`(3) The Administrator of General Services shall provide administrative and other support for the Council.

`(d) PRINCIPAL FORUM- The Council is designated the principal interagency forum for monitoring and improving the Federal acquisition system.

`(e) FUNCTIONS- The Council shall perform functions that include the following:

`(1) Develop recommendations for the Director of the Office of Management and Budget on Federal acquisition policies and requirements.

`(2) Share experiences, ideas, best practices, and innovative approaches related to Federal acquisition.

`(3) Assist the Administrator in the identification, development, and coordination of multiagency projects and other innovative initiatives to improve Federal acquisition.

`(4) Promote effective business practices that ensure the timely delivery of best value products to the Federal Government and achieve appropriate public policy objectives.

`(5) Further integrity, fairness, competition, openness, and efficiency in the Federal acquisition system.

`(6) Work with the Office of Personnel Management to assess and address the hiring, training, and professional development needs of the Federal Government related to acquisition.

`(7) Work with the Administrator and the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to promote the business practices referred to in paragraph (4) and other results of the functions carried out under this subsection.'.

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 16 the following new item:

`Sec. 16A. Chief Acquisition Officers Council.'.

The House bill contained a provision (sec. 1422) that would establish a Chief Acquisition Officers Council to monitor and improve the federal acquisition system.

The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.

The Senate recedes with an amendment that would modify the membership of the Council.

House Report 108-117, Part 1

The section would add a new section 16A to the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) Act (41 U.S.C. 403 et seq.) to authorize the establishment of a Chief Acquisition Officers Council to monitor and improve the federal acquisition system. The Council is to be chaired by the Deputy Director for Management (DDM) of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and comprised of the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy (Administrator), the Chief Acquisition Officers created under section 16 of the OFPP Act, and any other federal officer or employee designated by the chair. The Administrator is to lead the activities of the Council on behalf of the DDM. The General Services Administration is to provide administrative and other support to the Council. The Council will, among other things, develop recommendations for OMB on acquisition policies and requirements, assist the Administrator in the identification, development, and coordination of multi-agency and other innovative acquisition initiatives, promote effective business practices to ensure timely delivery of best value products and services to the government. The Council will also work with the Office of Personnel Management to assess and address hiring, training, and professional development needs related to acquisition.