Value Over Cost Act of 2024

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in favor of H.R. 9596, the Value Over Cost Act. The GSA keeps a list of goods and services that are available to Federal agencies for multiple GSA-approved vendors at different prices. This schedule is known as the Federal supply schedule. Agencies can order commercial goods and services listed on this schedule in different quantities at the prices stated on the schedule.

It provides a simplified process for agencies to acquire goods and services while also earning the volume discounts for the Federal Government as a whole.

Current law is ambiguous about whether the contracts and orders under the Federal supply schedule program must be the lowest price or the best value price. Best value contracts consider price but also things like the quality of the product and the expertise of the service provider.

The bill clarifies that both the lowest price and the best value are acceptable outcomes for contracts obtained under the scheduled program.

I commend Representative Byron Donalds and Representative Gerry Connolly from Virginia for their work on the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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