U.S. Government To Award Billions Of Dollars In Contracts To Open Electronic Marketplaces To Government Customers—Though Serious Questions Remain

Authors

Christopher R. Yukins, George Washington University Law SchoolFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2019

Status

Working

Abstract

Proposals to the U.S. General Services Administration are due soon in a $6 billion procurement under which multiple no-cost contracts will be awarded to vendors that will open electronic marketplaces to federal users making micro-purchases (generally up to $10,000). Although federal purchase card holders have long been able to make micro-purchases with few regulatory constraints regarding competition, transparency or socioeconomic requirements, this new initiative appears likely to normalize and expand those purchases—and so may revolutionize small purchases in the federal market. This article assesses some of the key concerns -- from cybersecurity to bid protests to pricing -- that still surround this important initiative.

GW Paper Series

GWU Law School Public Law Research Paper No. 2019-61; GWU Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2019-61

SSRN Link

https://ssrn.com/abstract=3471405

Recommended Citation

Yukins, Christopher R., U.S. Government To Award Billions Of Dollars In Contracts To Open Electronic Marketplaces To Government Customers—Though Serious Questions Remain (October 16, 2019). 61 Government Contractor ¶ 303 (Oct. 16, 2019); GWU Law School Public Law Research Paper No. 2019-61; GWU Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2019-61. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3471405