Ricketts, Kim Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Evaluate National Security Impacts of Federal Purchasing Standards
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) introduced the bipartisan Safe and Smart Federal Purchasing Act. This bill evaluates the national security implications of current federal purchasing standards.
“Federal procurement processes should be efficient, but they shouldn’t risk our national security,” said Ricketts. “Our bipartisan bill will review current processes and make necessary suggestions to keep Americans safe from threats, like Communist China. The House unanimously passed legislation earlier this year. We should do the same here in the Senate.”
“As people look out to an ever evolving and uncertain world, they should be able to trust their government is putting our nation’s security and Americans’ safety at the forefront of federal operations and standards,” said Senator Kim. “This legislation would help ensure we are living up to that responsibility as federal agencies go about the federal procurement process.”
The Safe and Smart Federal Purchasing Act requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to evaluate the procurement process of federal agencies to determine whether the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection process creates any national security risks. The Director of OMB must then report the results of this evaluation to appropriate congressional committees within 180 days of the legislation’s enactment.
BACKGROUND
LPTA provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) are a source selection process that allows federal agencies to select the lowest evaluated price that meets minimum performance requirements. LPTA criteria are not always appropriate for agencies seeking complex or technically innovative services. The criteria can result in agencies sacrificing long term value for short term savings. This bill ensures that LPTA will not be used in a manner that results in agencies cutting corners or jeopardizing national security.
The Safe and Smart Federal Purchasing Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously (417-0) on March 3rd, 2025. Last Congress, it passed the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability with a vote of 43-0, passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a vote of 397-0, and passed the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs with a vote of 10-0.