Reverse Auctions: Guidance Is Needed to Maximize Competition and Achieve Cost Savings

[摘要] A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Departments of the Army, Homeland Security, the Interior, and Veterans Affairs used reverse auctions to acquire predominantly commercial items and services--primarily for information technology products and medical equipment and supplies--although the mix of products and services varied among agencies. Most--but not all--of the auctions resulted in contracts with relatively small dollar value awards--typically $150,000 or less--and a high rate of awards to small businesses. The four agencies steadily increased their use of reverse auctions from fiscal years 2008 through 2012, with about $828 million in contract awards in 2012 alone. GAO was not able to analyze data from a fifth agency, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), because it collected only summary level information during fiscal year 2012. DLA guidance states that the reverse auction pricing tool should be used for all competitive purchases over $150,000."

[发布日期] 2013-12-09 [发布机构] United States. Government Accountability Office.

[关键词] Government accountability -- United States.;government operations;national defense;reverse auctions;letter report