Anti-bid shopping bill introduced

Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.) has introduced legislation in the U.S. Congress that would ban the practice of bid shopping by general contractors on federal projects. The bill, HR 1859, would prevent certain contracting practices by requiring each bidder on federal projects of more than $1 million to honor the submitted list of subcontractors that accompanied the construction bid. Hearings are expected this spring in the House.

The Associated General Contractors of America has increased its attacks on the bill as limiting contractors' financial management, legal, and subcontractor control options.