FEMA Testing Online Auctions to Improve Disaster Relief Procurement
May 4, 2006
Angela Kim, from Congressional Quarterly (CQ), reports on hearings held by the House Committee on Government Reform, lead by Congressman Tom Davis (VA), concerning contracting practices associated with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In her article, Ms. Kim reports that the agency is currently investigating FedBid’s reverse auction capability in order to speed up procurement but ensure accuracy and fairness.
Ms. Kim cites Brendan Walsh, FedBid’s manager of public relations, who describes some of the benefits of an online reverse auctioning, including “transparency in contracting to reduce fraud and waste, as well as increased awareness for contractors looking for potential business opportunities”. She also describes the testimony of Neal Fox, a FedBid advisor and a witness at the hearing, who addressed “‘the challenge of bridging the contracting gaps between federal, state and local contracting authorities,’ with a platform that can be used ‘with minimal training by any purchasing authority and without the need for additional contracting mechanisms.’”
For the complete article, please contact the Author at email: akim@cq.com