{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221014902/http://farenthold.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363291", "U.S. Congressman Blake Farenthold Chairs Hearing on Federal Government\u2019s Use of Design-Build Contracts", "2013-12-03", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Blake Farenthold", "F000460", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Congressman Blake Farenthold (TX-27), Chairman of the House Oversight Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, held a hearing today looking at the federal government's use of design-build contracts.\u00a0 A design-build contract is when federal agencies competitively procure both the architecture/engineering and construction of projects at the same time.\u00a0 \n\u201cIn fiscal year 2012, the Federal Government spent over $41 billion on construction and architect and engineering (A&E) contracts.\u00a0 That\u2019s eight percent of the roughly $500 billion the federal government spends annually on goods and services,\u201d said Congressman Farenthold in his opening statement.\u00a0 \n\u201cWe want to make sure the government awards contracts to those companies who will do the job best, not the companies who are the best at competing for contracts. As government watchdogs, it\u2019s our job to make sure these construction and A&E contracts are managed efficiently and effectively, and that taxpayer money is spent wisely.\u201d \nAlso discussed during the hearing was contracting reform legislation offered by Congressman Sam Graves (R-MO-06), that would, in part, mandate that agencies use a \u201ctwo-step process\u201d for design-build contracts valued at or over $750,000 which will allow for more competition while saving businesses and taxpayers money. \u00a0\nDuring his questioning, Congressman Farenthold engaged with contracting experts from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, an architectural and engineering firm, and a general contracting firm. \n\u00a0\u201cDoes the proposed legislation lower the bar for new entrants while still getting quality work for the taxpayers\u2019 dollars?\u201d questioned Congressman Farenthold.\u00a0 Mr. Dalluge responded, \u201cSir, in my opinion, this bill goes a long way to providing more clarity and transparency to the [contracting] system, which will invite more people and allow small firms to compete better.\u201d\nTo view Congressman Farenthold\u2019s opening statement, click here.\nTo view Congressman Farenthold\u2019s questioning, click here. \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221014902/http://farenthold.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363291"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.093476941809058, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}