New Federal Procurement Rules Likely to Come at Year’s End

Published April 13, 2010 | By Nancy Smyth

Low bidder wins rules set to be altered | Notes from Jim Haughey | Reed Construction Data.

No final plan or timetable has yet been announced. New contracting rules will include all federal contracts not jut construction. So there are likely to be enough objections to delay implementation for quite a few months. As of now you should anticipate new procurement rules for federal bids late this year. New rules will likely apply to state and local government and nonprofit projects with federal financing.

Leaked information suggests that a database will be compiled scoring the social acceptability of the business practices of all potential bidders. Expect your public servants in Washington to contact you for details about pay, healthcare, retirement, sick leave, safety and environmental policies. The social scoring will apply to the whole organization not just the part of the organization that may bid on a federal contract. Materials, design, construction management and other organizations will be covered by the new rules if they want to continue bidding for public contracts.