§1705 Advocates for competition

Summary

Each executive agency must name an advocate for competition for the agency and for each procuring activity. The person must be someone in a job that was authorized on July 18, 1984, and cannot be the senior procurement executive. The agency must not give them work that gets in the way of their job. The agency must give them help and staff, such as engineers, contract and financial experts, supply managers, and small‑business specialists. The advocate must push for full and open competition when the agency buys goods and services. They must review buying actions, tell the senior procurement executive about chances to increase competition and about things that block competition, and send an annual report on activities, new steps, and remaining problems. They must recommend yearly goals and accountability plans (which can include awards) and show how training and research support competition. For each buying activity, the advocate must also promote buying commercial items and challenge need statements, overly detailed specs, and burdensome contract terms that limit competition.