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CIVIC HERALD
HR 1118 · 119th Congress · HouseIn committee

Value Over Cost Act of 2026

Provisional: our plain-language summary, pending review.

In plain language: Federal agencies buying goods and services through government supply catalogs will be allowed to award contracts based on overall value rather than being forced to pick the cheapest bid. This permits purchasing officials to weigh factors like durability, past performance, and quality alongside price. While this helps agencies avoid poorly made products, it can also lead to the government spending more money on higher-priced contracts.

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Provisionalunreviewed: impact, issue tags, provisions, stakeholders, summary
People affected—The text does not state or quantify a specific population affected.
Fiscal magnitude—No specific appropriation or fiscal amount is specified in the text.
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Issues

What this bill touches.

Spending vs. restraintEthics & oversight−30

The sign shows the bill's direction on each issue (+ toward, − away); the number is its magnitude. Color never encodes good or bad, and never party.

Who it affects

Who it helps · who it burdens.

Provisional: our reading of who it affects, pending review.

Who it helps

  • Federal procurement officialsGains the flexibility and authority to award contracts and orders under the multiple-award schedule program based on "best value" rather than being bound to the lowest overall cost alternative (Sec. 2).provisional

Who it burdens

  • General Services Administration and purchasing agenciesMust evaluate and justify multiple-award schedule contracts and orders under a "best value" standard instead of the previous lowest overall cost standard (Sec. 2).provisional
  • Government contractors bidding on multiple-award schedulesAre evaluated on overall value factors rather than having multiple-award schedule contracts awarded solely to the lowest overall cost alternative, altering the criteria required to win awards (Sec. 2).provisional

Dollar-level funding (FEC sector totals) is coming in a later phase.

What it does

The provisions, in plain language.

Provisional: our reading of what the bill does, pending review.

  1. Directs the General Services Administration to use procedures that provide the "best value" to meet government needs, rather than requiring the lowest overall cost, when awarding contracts or orders under the multiple award schedule program.

    Sec. 2provisional

How your members of Congress line up

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The record

How members voted on Value Over Cost Act of 2026.

Recorded roll calls on this bill, most recent first. Open one to see each member's position.

  • House · Jul 21, 2026 · 2/3 YEA-AND-NAY

    On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended · Passed

    Source →

Timeline

How it moved.

Show all 14 actions
  1. Jul 22, 2026Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  2. Jul 21, 2026The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
  3. Jul 21, 2026Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  4. Jul 21, 2026On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 421 - 1 (Roll no. 252).
  5. Jul 21, 2026Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 421 - 1 (Roll no. 252).
  6. Jul 21, 2026Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4705-4706)
  7. Jul 20, 2026At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  8. Jul 20, 2026DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1118.
  9. Jul 20, 2026Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4656; text: CR H4656)
  10. Jul 20, 2026Mr. Burlison moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  11. Feb 5, 2026Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 44 - 0.
  12. Feb 4, 2026Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  13. Feb 7, 2025Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
  14. Feb 7, 2025Introduced in House
  1. Jul 22, 2026Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  2. Jul 21, 2026The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
  3. Jul 21, 2026Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  4. Jul 21, 2026On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 421 - 1 (Roll no. 252).
  5. Jul 21, 2026Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 421 - 1 (Roll no. 252).
  6. Feb 5, 2026Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 44 - 0.
  7. Feb 7, 2025Introduced in House

The original text

Read it for yourself.

Read the original text →

Sources & provenance

Congress.govrefreshed 3 months ago

Cite this page

Civic Herald. “Value Over Cost Act of 2026 (H.R. 1118, 119th Congress).” https://civicherald.app/bills/119-hr-1118. Congress.gov record as of Aug 6, 2026.

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