Value Over Cost Act of 2026
Last recorded step: House, Jul 22, 2026.
Nothing scheduled on the calendars we hold.
This bill would allow the GSA to award contracts based on best value rather than lowest cost if deemed in the government's best interest.
What it does
This bill proposes to allow the General Services Administration (GSA) to evaluate contracts and orders under its multiple award schedule program based on "best value" rather than the lowest overall cost. Under this standard, the GSA would be permitted to consider non-cost factors to determine which proposals provide the greatest overall benefit to the federal government. This change would apply in cases where the GSA determines that prioritizing value over cost is in the government's best interest.
Who is affected
This bill primarily affects the General Services Administration (GSA), which would be authorized to evaluate contract proposals based on best value rather than lowest cost. Federal agencies that use the GSA's multiple award schedules to procure commercial supplies and services are also affected by the potential change in evaluation criteria. Additionally, commercial vendors and contractors bidding on these schedules may see their proposals evaluated on non-cost factors to determine the greatest overall benefit to the government.
Key provisions
- Authorization of best value contract evaluations. Allows the General Services Administration to evaluate contracts and orders under the multiple award schedule program based on best value rather than lowest overall cost. This applies when the agency determines that prioritizing non-cost factors is in the best interest of the federal government.
- Consideration of non-cost factors in procurement. Permits federal agencies to consider non-cost factors during the contract proposal evaluation process to identify the offer providing the greatest overall benefit. This criteria may be used for obtaining commercial supplies and services through the simplified multiple award schedule process.
Fiscal impact
- H.R. 1118, Value Over Cost Act of 2026· As ordered reported by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on February 5, 2026
Effective dates
Not applicable: Official Summary does not address effective dates
Relationship to existing law
This bill modifies the evaluation criteria for the General Services Administration's (GSA) existing multiple award schedule program, which currently provides federal agencies with a simplified process for purchasing commercial supplies and services. It grants the GSA the authority to prioritize "best value" non-cost factors over the lowest overall cost when determining the most beneficial contract proposals for the federal government.
Stated purpose
The bill aims to allow the General Services Administration to prioritize the greatest overall benefit to the federal government by evaluating contract proposals based on best value rather than strictly the lowest cost. This change would permit the consideration of non-cost factors when agencies acquire commercial supplies and services through the multiple award schedule program.