Bill · S. 3541· Senate(119-S-3541)
A bill to increase competition in Defense contracting, and for other purposes.
- Introduced
- 12/17/2025
- Last activity
- 12/17/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- Sponsored by
- Gary Peters
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill aims to increase competition in defense contracting by the Department of Defense. It requires the Secretary of Defense to issue guidance on using a wider range of past performance, including commercial or non-government projects. The bill also directs the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council to recommend ways to eliminate unnecessary procedural barriers for small businesses and nontraditional defense contractors. Additionally, it requires the Secretary of Defense to implement regulatory actions to remove these barriers and prioritize cost-efficiency and quality in awarding contracts.
Yes· 3 of 5
Does this make it easier to run a small business?+7
The legislation mandates the identification and elimination of unnecessary procedural barriers that disproportionately affect small businesses.
Would business owners be better off under this?+6
Small business owners and nontraditional defense contractors benefit directly from provisions designed to eliminate unnecessary procedural barriers to entry.
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?+5
The bill explicitly prioritizes cost-efficiency and quality in awarding defense contracts, helping ensure taxpayer money is spent wisely.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Under Section 1(a)(1)(A), the Department of Defense will accept past performance on a wider range of projects, including commercial or non-government projects. This is a positive step because it allows more eligible firms with the capability to perform a requirement to compete.
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Under Section 1(b)(1), the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council will make recommendations to identify and eliminate unnecessary procedural barriers affecting small businesses and nontraditional defense contractors. This could help smaller companies compete more easily for defense contracts.
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Under Section 1(c), the Secretary of Defense must prioritize contracting policies that ensure cost-efficiency and quality of goods and services are key determining factors. This is beneficial because it helps ensure taxpayer money is spent wisely on quality work.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Based on the provided text, there are no explicitly stated negative impacts or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+7Improves Fiscal Responsibility+5Improves Economic Growth+4
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+6
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+4
- 12/17/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.