SAFE Services Act

DoD preference for U.S. companies

If enacted, the bill would require the Secretary of Defense to revise DoD procurement rules within 180 days. Contracting officers would give a preference to offerors that qualify as "United States companies" when buying professional services. "United States company" would mean a firm organized under U.S. law, with its principal place of business in the U.S., not foreign-owned, and a joint venture would qualify if a U.S. firm owns at least 50 percent. The Secretary could waive the preference if it would prevent meeting an urgent operational need or if no U.S. company can meet the contract in a timely or cost-effective way; any written waiver would have to be sent to congressional defense committees within 30 days.