H.R. 5729

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5729 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5729

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 17, 2026

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

AN ACT

To authorize direct emergency acquisition flexibilities for the 
National Park Service for the purpose of retaining, vetting, approving, 
and expediting contractor approval for the clearing, rebuilding, 
maintenance, and improvement of the Grand Canyon grounds that have been 
impacted by the Dragon Bravo Fire.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``North Rim Restoration Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Covered area.--The term ``covered area'' means the 
areas within Grand Canyon National Park impacted by the Dragon 
Bravo Fire.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National 
Park Service.

SEC. 3. EMERGENCY CONTRACTING AUTHORITY.

(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any requirement for a Presidential 
emergency or disaster declaration, the Secretary is authorized to use 
the emergency acquisition flexibilities under part 18 of title 48, Code 
of Federal Regulations (and any successor regulations), including the 
increased micro-purchase thresholds, simplified acquisition thresholds, 
and other higher-level emergency flexibilities, in contracting for the 
following services within the covered area:
(1) Forest management or restoration activities carried out 
in response to the Dragon Bravo Fire.
(2) Rebuilding, planning, development, and design of 
structures affected by the Dragon Bravo Fire.
(3) Improvements to the grounds and structures.
(4) Recovery efforts.
(5) Any activity listed in section 4(a).
(b) Process for Other Services.--Unless otherwise provided by law 
or regulation, the authority granted under subsection (a) does not 
apply to contracts for services other than those described in 
paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (a).
(c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the Secretary begins to 
use the authorization under subsection (a), and every 180 days 
thereafter until the date that is 180 days after the date described in 
subsection (e), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Natural 
Resources and Oversight and Government Reform of the House of 
Representatives and the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources and 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on 
all expenditures related to the recovery efforts for the Dragon Bravo 
Fire, including the following:
(1) The expected cost of recovery efforts.
(2) Cost expenditures.
(3) Cost overruns.
(4) Identification of contractors preforming the work 
associated with the recovery from the Dragon Bravo Fire.
(5) Any affiliations or conflicts of interest between the 
contractor and the contracting office at the Grand Canyon 
National Park or the National Park Service.
(6) Any waste, fraud, or abuse detected during the recovery 
efforts.
(7) Any contracts that came in under expected expenses.
(8) An estimated time of completion for all projects and 
full recovery efforts related to the Dragon Bravo Fire.
(9) If an extension is needed for this authority to 
complete projects associated with the Dragon Bravo Fire.
(d) Extension.--If, after the date of the enactment of this Act, a 
new wildfire ignites within the covered area and impacts recovery 
efforts related to the Dragon Bravo Fire, the Secretary may request a 
12-month extension of the authority granted under subsection (a), 
subject to congressional approval.
(e) Expiration.--The authority granted under subsection (a) shall 
expire on the date that is the earlier of the following:
(1) 7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(2) The date on which projects and recovery efforts within 
the covered area are completed, as determined by the Secretary.

SEC. 4. LIMITED SOLE-SOURCE PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY.

(a) In General.--Notwithstanding chapter 33 of title 41, United 
States Code, or any other provision of law relating to the use of 
competitive procedures for the procurement of services, supplies, or 
construction materials and services, subject to a determination made by 
the Secretary under subsection (b), the Secretary may enter into one or 
more contracts, on a noncompetitive basis, for the planning, design, 
repair, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, stabilization, 
replacement, or operation of assets supporting the recovery and 
reopening of the Grand Canyon National Park North Rim, including--
(1) employee housing and related facilities;
(2) water, wastewater, power, communications, and other 
utility systems;
(3) visitor-facing facilities and infrastructure, including 
lodging, food service, retail, transportation, and associated 
public-use facilities; and
(4) maintenance, administration, and other back-of-house 
assets necessary for safe and continuous operation of North Rim 
services.
(b) Determination Required.--The Secretary may utilize the 
authority provided in subsection (a) if the Secretary determines, in 
writing, that--
(1) the concessioner currently holding a valid concession 
contract for operations at the North Rim of Grand Canyon 
National Park on the date of enactment of this Act is uniquely 
positioned to execute one or more procurement contracts 
identified under subsection (a) due to the concessioner's 
current operational responsibilities, site access, integration 
with existing concession infrastructure, or continuity needs 
essential to expedited North Rim recovery; and
(2) use of noncompetitive procedures under subsection (a) 
with this concessioner is necessary to ensure public health and 
safety, protection of park resources, or continuity of 
essential services.
(c) Expiration.--The authority granted under subsection (a) shall 
expire on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this 
Act.
(d) Relationship to Existing Concession Contract.--Any procurement 
action conducted or contract awarded under this section shall be 
considered separate from, and shall not modify, amend, or extend the 
duration of, or provide any leasehold surrender interest or other 
benefit, under a concession contract issued under section 101913 of 
title 54, United States Code, or related authorities.
(e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to--
(1) authorize the award of any concession contract or lease 
without full compliance with applicable concession contracting 
law; or
(2) prevent the Secretary from using competitive procedures 
if the Secretary determines such procedures to be in the best 
interest of the United States.

Passed the House of Representatives March 16, 2026.

Attest:

KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,

Clerk.