Alan Simpson: “This amendment, basically, is duplicative and ignores the existing responsible contractor award system that is already…”

“This amendment, basically, is duplicative and ignores the existing responsible contractor award system that is already in place. Contracting officers must already consult the System for Award Management to ensure a contractor can be awarded a contract. Businesses on the Excluded Parties List System have been suspended or debarred through a due process system and may not be eligible to receive or renew contracts for such cited offenses. The best way to ensure the government contracts or provides grants to the best employers is to enforce the existing suspension and debarment system. Bad actors who are in violation of basic worker protections should not be awarded Federal contracts. We all agree with that. That is why the Federal Government already has a system in place to deny Federal contracts to bad actors. If a contractor fails to maintain high standards of integrity and business ethics, agencies already have the authority to suspend or debar the employer from government contracting. In 2014, Federal agencies issued more than 1,000 suspensions and nearly 2,000 debarments to employers who bid on Federal contracts. The amendment will delay the procurement process with harmful consequences to our Nation's nuclear safety and security. On numerous occasions, the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office has highlighted costly litigation stemming from the complex regulatory rules, including from the Fair Labor Standards Act.…”