S. 2137: Expedited Delivery Act

This bill, known as the Expedited Delivery Act, aims to revise how the U.S. government procures goods and services, allowing for more efficient processes under certain conditions. Below are the key provisions of the bill:

Amendments to Procurement Procedures

The bill proposes changes to Section 3204 of Title 10 of the United States Code, which governs procurement practices for the Department of Defense (DoD). The main alterations include:

• **Modified Procurement Approaches**: It introduces the possibility of using procurement methods that do not involve competitive procedures when there is evidence that a required property or service has unique capabilities or benefits.
• **Higher Monetary Thresholds for Non-Competitive Procedures**: The bill raises the financial thresholds for when non-competitive procurement processes can be used, increasing the limits from $10 million to $100 million for certain categories. Other thresholds also see significant increases, which include:
  • From $500,000 to $10 million in specific contexts.
  • From $75 million to $500 million in other cases.
• **Removal of Certain Subsections**: Several previously existing subsections that outline specific procurement procedures are eliminated to streamline the process.

Justification and Considerations

Under the new guidelines, the justification for using non-competitive procurement must still be accurate and comprehensive but is adjusted to allow flexibility based on the agency's assessment of unique capabilities.

The bill emphasizes the necessity for market research to confirm that the goods or services sought fulfill specific criteria, such as:

• Providing differentiated capabilities that are not available through other means.
• Allowing for accelerated delivery schedules that would not be possible through traditional procurement methods.
• Supporting continuous improvements over time in the provided services or products.

Impact on Government Operations

The primary intention of the bill is to enhance the efficiency of the procurement process within the federal government, particularly for the Department of Defense, by reducing the time and complexity associated with competitive bidding when certain conditions are met. This could potentially lead to faster acquisition of critical technologies and services that may be necessary for national defense and other urgent needs.

Relevant Companies

• BA - Boeing: Likely to be impacted due to its defense contracting business, particularly if they can expedite delivery of specialized military aircraft or systems through non-competitive processes.
• RTN - Raytheon Technologies: This defense contractor might benefit from the increased procurement limits, allowing for quicker contracts for advanced technologies.
• LOCK - Lockheed Martin: As a major contractor for the Department of Defense, changes in procurement practices could facilitate faster contract approvals for defense projects.