June 2008
General Accountability Office: DOE Use of Other Transactions Authority
Department of Energy: Implementation and Use of Other Transactions Authority provided in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, reports on the Department's use of other transactions authority, as provided in the EPACT 2005 legislation, to attract "nontraditional government contractors." The 'other transactions authority' provided DOE, similar to that provided at DOD and DHS, allows an agency "to enter into agreement; other than' standard contracts, grants and cooperative agreement. Agreements under this authority would not be subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulations or certain other federal laws governing contracts." The GAO reports that "DOE's use of other transactions authority to date has been limited: the department has negotiated one technology investment agreement to construct and operate a facility (an integrated biorefinery) that would convert wood waste to ethanol …. [and that this limited use] is consistent with the language of the Energy Policy Act …"
