Collins, Wyden Amendment to Demand Competitive Bidding, Sunshine on Iraq Contracts
Amendment would block new reconstruction contracts without public disclosure

September 26, 2003

Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today announced that they will offer an amendment to the supplemental appropriations bill requiring that new Iraqi construction contracts be awarded through full and open competition; any contracts awarded without full and open competitive bidding could only receive funds if the awarding agency publishes documents justifying a sole-source or limited-bid award.

“Our amendment is about accountability. It is about ensuring fairness and openness when contracts are made to support our military and to rebuild a country that is in need of basic infrastructure and services,” said Collins.

“It is time to let the sun shine on Iraqi reconstruction contracts,” said Wyden. “Congress must tie disclosure to the money so that the American people will know how their tax dollars are being spent.”

The Collins-Wyden amendment comes in the wake of five months of inquiries by Collins, Wyden and others into why numerous contracts were awarded under procedures that were less than full and open.

“The American people should not be asked to write blank check after blank check for costs of rebuilding Iraq,” Wyden said. “They have not received any assurance that their tax dollars are not being wasted in Iraq while the economy languishes at home.”

“A tremendous amount of money will be spent on contracts to rebuild Iraq,” said Collins. “Our bipartisan, reasoned approach to the contracting process will ensure the best value for American taxpayers.”

Earlier this year Wyden, Collins and colleagues introduced the “Sunshine in Iraq Reconstruction Contracting Act of 2003,” which would require public disclosure of justifying documents for sole-source and limited-bid contracts. The amendment was included in the Defense authorization bill currently pending in conference.

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