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Wilson’s bill to broaden federal accountability
Photo
Dave Johnson
Photo
Charlie Wilson
By DAVID SKOLNICK
SUMMITVILLE
Political rivals U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson, a Democrat, and Columbiana County Republican Chairman Dave Johnson are on the same team working to improve transparency and accountability in the federal subcontracting process.
Wilson, of St. Clairsville, D-6th, introduced a bill Tuesday in the U.S. House he said was inspired by an incident that adversely impacted Summitville Tiles, owned by Johnson.
The company was denied the option to offer a proposal last year on a tile subcontract at an elementary school at Fort Bragg, an Air Force base in North Carolina.
The Army hired Feldhaus, a German company, for the $250,000 job.
“We’re pretty certain our product was less expensive and better, but we weren’t even given a chance to compete,” Johnson said.
Federal law requires transparency and reporting standards for prime contractors but not for subcontractors, Wilson said.
That’s why he introduced the bill, called the Summitville Procurement Protection Act.
If it is approved, the bill would require federal agencies to publicly advertise for subcontracting work, select subcontractors through an open competition, provide information on the subcontractor award, disclose information to unsuccessful bidders as to why they weren’t chosen and provide a copy of the winning proposal, Wilson said.
None of that now is required, he said.
“We’re looking to help small businesses who want the opportunity to compete,” Wilson said.
Despite their political differences, Johnson said he appreciates Wilson’s work on this issue.
Summitville has 150 workers and plans next month to bring back 20 of the 50 it laid off last year, Johnson said.