Bill Overview
Title: DHS Contract Reporting Act of 2021
Description: This bill temporarily establishes a daily public reporting requirement for covered contract awards of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Covered contract award means a contract action of DHS with a total authorized dollar amount of $4 million or greater, including contract awards governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation and those made with other than full and open competition. DHS must post, maintain, and update on a publicly available website a daily report of all covered contract awards, except for such awards relating to classified products, programs, or services. The report must include specified information regarding each covered contract award, including information relating to (1) the contract type and value, (2) the name and address of the vendor, and (3) the contracting office. This bill shall cease to have effect five years after the enactment date.
Sponsors: Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals involved in or monitoring DHS contracts and procurement
Estimated Size: 200000
- The primary stakeholders impacted by this bill are individuals working within or with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including those involved in contracting and procurement.
- The bill also impacts government officials involved in oversight and compliance, as they will need to ensure reporting requirements are met.
- Members of the public interested in federal contracting or monitoring government spending and accountability may also be impacted, as they gain access to more information.
- Private sector entities, particularly businesses and consultants that frequently engage in federal contracts with DHS, will be directly affected by increased transparency in public reporting.
- Given that DHS contractors operate in various fields, the impact includes a broad range of sectors such as security, technology, and infrastructure.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily affects individuals and entities directly engaged with DHS in contract bidding and procurement activities. Given the focus on transparency and reporting, stakeholders include government officials, contractors, and oversight personnel.
- Government workers involved with DHS procurement will see the administrative burden but also the potential for streamlined processes with better oversight.
- Contractors and private sector companies may adjust their bidding processes to align with new transparency measures, impacting their strategic operations.
- General public interest groups or watchgroups focusing on government accountability will see increased access to information but no direct material impact on individuals' wellbeing.
Simulated Interviews
DHS Procurement Officer (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The new reporting requirements increase transparency, which I see as a positive shift for accountability.
- There's added pressure to ensure timely and accurate reporting, which could increase stress in the short term.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Government Accountability Activist (Austin, Texas)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The increased transparency is a big win for accountability and aids investigative work.
- Access to immediate public reports on large contracts boosts the civic oversight role of citizens.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Security Contractor CEO (New York, New York)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I expect the policy to lead to increased competition which can drive down costs but also reduce margins for firms like ours.
- Greater public reporting could impact bidding strategies as we might have to disclose more sensitive pricing information.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
IT Specialist for DHS Contractor (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the policy pressures contractors to improve transparency which might benefit my role, as IT adjustments will be needed.
- We must be ready for a more dynamic workflow as more frequent updates may be requested.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Federal Oversight Official (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The increase in oversight demand could be resource intensive, possibly requiring more personnel or software for audits.
- This could streamline processes in the long term as more standardized data becomes available.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Junior Analyst in Think Tank (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy provides an invaluable source of data for our analysis and can significantly enhance the transparency of our reports.
- Closer attention to DHS contracting practices could arise as a result of this transparency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired (Miami, Florida)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a retiree, I don't see direct impact, but I appreciate the increased transparency as it supports civic engagement.
- It is encouraging to see changes that align with accountability and reduce government waste.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Data Analyst for Private Security Firm (Denver, Colorado)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry this policy might complicate our bidding strategy since transparency could lead to more price-based competition.
- However, more data could also bolster our market analysis, providing a better competitive edge.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
CEO of Small Business Consulting Firm (Dallas, Texas)
Age: 43 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our consulting services may see increased demand as businesses adjust to new compliance standards.
- There are concerns about keeping up with all regulation changes and ensuring clients remain compliant.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Construction Manager for DHS Projects (Atlanta, Georgia)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased reporting can mean more paperwork and potential for project delays.
- We’re expected to be more transparent which can improve trust and oversight in the long term.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $3000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $3500000)
Year 2: $2500000 (Low: $2000000, High: $3000000)
Year 3: $2500000 (Low: $2000000, High: $3000000)
Year 5: $2500000 (Low: $2000000, High: $3000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The temporary nature of the policy suggests costs are limited to the five-year duration.
- The successful implementation depends heavily on the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the IT infrastructure established for the reporting system.