HR 787: Plain Language in Contracting Act

HR 787 in plain English: This bill requires that federal contracting opportunity notices aimed at small businesses be written in clear, concise, and accessible language. It applies the standards of the Plain Writing Act of 2010 to these notices and directs the Small Business Administration to issue rules to carry out the requirements.

Stated purpose

To require that government contracting opportunity notices aimed at small businesses are written in plain, clear, and easy-to-understand language, and that they include searchable keywords so small businesses can find and understand them more easily.

Key points

• Requires federal contracting notices for small businesses to be written in plain, clear, and concise language.
• Applies the Plain Writing Act of 2010 standards to small business contracting opportunity notices.
• Directs the Small Business Administration to issue rules implementing these requirements.

Arguments supporters make

• Complex government language has long been a barrier for small businesses trying to compete for federal contracts, and plain language would level the playing field.
• Better-written notices with searchable keywords help small businesses quickly find relevant opportunities, saving them time and money.
• The bill imposes no new spending, so it improves access at no extra cost to taxpayers.

Arguments opponents make

• With no new funding authorized, agencies may struggle to actually rewrite notices to meet the new standards, making the law hard to enforce in practice.
• The bill's requirements — like 'to the maximum extent practicable' — are vague enough that agencies could technically comply without meaningfully changing how they write notices.
• Federal contracting often involves technical or legal language that cannot always be simplified without losing important precision, potentially creating confusion or legal ambiguity.

Tradeoffs

Making notices simpler and more accessible for small businesses may conflict with the technical precision that complex government contracts sometimes require. Agencies are asked to meet new writing standards without any additional resources to do so.

Current status in Congress: Passed House.

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