Davis unveils GSA reform bill

Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) has introduced a bill intended to guide the ongoing effort to reorganize the General Services Administration.

The General Services Administration Modernization Act would:

* Create a new Federal Acquisition Service that combines the existing Federal Supply Service and Federal Technology Service. The merger, long anticipated, would allow GSA officials to provide goods, services, and information technology in a single acquisition.

* Authorize the GSA administrator to appoint up to five "regional executives" for the Federal Acquisition Service to provide closer oversight and more management control over acquisition-related activities.

* Establish retention bonuses and other incentives to maintain the government's civilian acquisition workforce. To encourage experienced employees to work in procurement, the bill would retain civil service annuities for individuals who return to government to take an acquisition-related position.