H.R. 5644House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Construction Consensus Procurement Improvement Act of 2020

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 10:27 AM UTC

The Construction Consensus Procurement Improvement Act of 2020 would stop federal agencies from using reverse‑auction methods when awarding contracts for design and construction services. Within 180 days of the law’s passage, the Federal Acquisition Regulation must be changed to ban this practice. The rule applies to any government procurement of architectural, engineering, planning, interior design, construction work, material delivery, or major alterations of public facilities.

Key Provisions

Requires the Federal Acquisition Regulation to be amended within 180 days to prohibit reverse auctions for design and construction service contracts.
Defines "design and construction services" to include site planning, architecture, engineering, interior design, construction work, material delivery, and major alterations of public buildings or infrastructure.
Specifies that a reverse auction is an electronic, real‑time bidding process where sellers lower their prices and the contract is awarded solely on the lowest price.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

January 16, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 16, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

January 16, 2020

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 16, 2020

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 5644

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 16, 2020

Mr. Meadows (for himself and Mr. Khanna) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform

A BILL

To prohibit the use of reverse auctions for design and construction services procurements, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Construction Consensus Procurement Improvement Act of 2020.

Prohibition on use of a reverse auction for the award of a contract for design and construction services

(a)

Finding

Congress finds that, in contrast to a traditional auction in which the buyers bid up the price, sellers bid down the price in a reverse auction.

(b)

Prohibition

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Acquisition Regulation shall be amended to prohibit the use of reverse auctions for awarding contracts for design and construction services.

(c)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

The term design and construction services means—

(A)

site planning and landscape design;

(B)

architectural and engineering services (as defined in section 1102 of title 40, United States Code);

(C)

interior design;

(D)

performance of substantial construction work for facility, infrastructure, and environmental restoration projects;

(E)

delivery and supply of construction materials to construction sites; or

(F)

construction or substantial alteration of public buildings or public works.

(2)

The term reverse auction means, with respect to any procurement by an executive agency—

(A)

a real-time auction conducted through an electronic medium among 2 or more offerors who compete by submitting bids for a supply or service contract, or a delivery order, task order, or purchase order under the contract, with the ability to submit revised lower bids at any time before the closing of the auction; and

(B)

the award of the contract, delivery order, task order, or purchase order to the offeror is solely based on the price obtained through the auction process.