APPENDIX G

List of Recommendations

1. Improve the system for collection and dissemination of statistics on procurement by commodity and agency to meet congressional, executive branch, and industry needs.

2. Provide a positive means for users to communicate satisfaction with their support system as a method of evaluating its effectiveness and ensuring user confidence.

3. Require that development of new Federal specifications for commercial-type products be limited to those that can be specifically justified, including the use of total cost-benefit criteria. All commercial producttype specifications should be reevaluated every five years. Purchase descriptions should be used when Federal specifications are not available.

4. Assign responsibility for policy regarding the development and coordination of Federal specifications to the Office of Federal Procurement Policy.

5. Encourage agencies to use headquarters procurement staff personnel in the conduct of on-the-job training of field procurement personnel to (a) implement techniques adapted to specific field activity needs and (b) identify possibilities for procurement innovation and transfusion.

6. Provide statutory authority and assign to the Office of Federal Procurement Policy responsibility for policies to achieve greater economy in the procurement, storage, and distribution of commercial products used by Federal agencies. Until statutory authority is provided and until such responsibility is assigned to the Office of Federal Procure

ment Policy, the following actions should be taken:

(a) Establish reasonable standards to permit local using installations to buy directly from commercial sources if lower total economic costs to the Government can be achieved. However, decentralization of items for local purchase should not be permitted to affect adversely centralized procurement and distribution management required for purposes such as mobilization planning, military readiness, and product quality assur

ance.

(b) Develop and implement on an orderly basis industrial funding of activities engaged in interagency supply support of commercial products and services, to the fullest practical extent, so that (1) determination and recoupment of the true costs for providing such products and services will be facilitated, and (2) efficiency in the use of resources will be fostered.

(c) Evaluate continuously the efficiency, economy, and appropriateness of the procurement and distribution systems on a total economic cost basis at all levels, without prejudice to mobilization reserve and other national requirements.

7. Require that consideration be given to the direct procurement of products made in the United States from sources avaliable to overseas activities when such sources are cost-effective.

8. Authorize primary grantees use of Federal sources of supply and services when:

(a) The purpose is to support a specific grant program for which Federal financing exceeds 60 percent,

(b) The use is optional on the grantee, the Government source, and, in the case of Federal schedules or other indefinite delivery contracts, on the supplying contractor, and (c) The Government is reimbursed all

costs.

9. Require that grantor agencies establish regulatory procedures for assuring appropriate use of the products or services and computation of total costs for Government reimbursement.

10. Assign responsibility for monitoring implementation of this program and its socioeconomic effects to the Office of Federal Procurement Policy.

[One Commissioner abstained from voting on recommendations 8, 9, and 10.]

Dissenting Position

Dissenting Recommendation 1. Prohibit the use of Federal supply sources by grantees, except where unusual circumstances dictate and under express statutory authorization.

Dissenting Recommendation 2. Charge grantees on the basis of total economic cost to the Government for Federal supplies and services made available to them. [Offered in lieu of Commission recommendations 8, 9, and 10.]

11. Reevaluate GSA and agency ADPE acquisition procedures, from identification of requirements to delivery of an operational system, for consideration of all appropriate elements on the basis of total economic cost.

12. Require that GSA establish ADPE

procurement delegation policy that would promote (a) effective preplanning of requirements by agencies and (b) optimum use of manpower.

13. Revise funding policies regarding multi-year leasing contracts, in addition to use of the ADPE Fund, to permit Government agencies to procure ADPE on a costeffective basis.

14. Develop and issue a set of standard programs to be used as benchmarks for evaluating vendor ADPE proposals.

15. Change the late proposal clause regarding ADPE to conform to other Government procurement practices.

16. Assign responsibility for consistent and equitable implementation of legislative policy concerning food acquisition to the Office of Federal Procurement Policy or to an agency designated by the President.

17. Establish by legislation a central coordinator to identify and assign individual agency responsibilities for management of the Federal food quality assurance program.

18. Encourage procuring activities, when it is deemed in the best interests of the Government, to purchase supplies or services from public utilities by accepting the commercial forms and provisions that are used in the utilities' sales to industry and the general public, provided the service contract provisions are not in violation of public law.

19. Review transportation procurement techniques to determine whether more innovative procurement methods are warranted when alternative sources and modes are available.