PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.9596 / 118th Congress

Value Over Cost Act

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 755.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Sep 16, 2024

Value Over Cost Act of 2024

This bill specifies that contracts and orders under the multiple award schedule program of the General Services Administration (GSA) may be evaluated on best value, rather than lowest overall cost, if the GSA determines that to be in the best interests of the federal government. (Best value allows consideration of non-cost factors when evaluating contract proposals to determine the offer that provides the greatest overall benefit. The GSA's multiple award schedules provide federal agencies with a simplified process for obtaining commercial supplies and commercial services at prices associated with volume buying.) 

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19] · R–FL

Committees

  • Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  • Oversight and Government Reform Committee
  • Armed Services Committee
4 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 755.

  2. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters without amendment. With written report No. 118-335.

  3. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters without amendment. With written report No. 118-335.

  4. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

  5. Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

  6. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  7. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5942)

  8. Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5942)

  9. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 9596.

  10. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5942-5943)

  11. Mr. Higgins (LA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

  12. Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 39 - 0.

  13. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

  14. Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  15. Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  16. Introduced in House

  17. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jun 6, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.9596 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.9596 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.9596 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.9596 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources