Assuring Respect for the OMB Circular A-76 Competitive Sourcing Process

The Bush Administration's current competitive sourcing goals are ambitious to say the least. To achieve these goals the Circular A-76 competitive sourcing process, which has come under increasing criticism, will need changes. As the recent cost comparison case at Lackland AFB illustrates, improvements are a must if the Circular A-76 process is to be a relevant and fair management tool for improving the efficiency, responsiveness, and customer satisfaction in governmental operations. In furtherance of its competitive sourcing goals, the Bush Administration should initiative steps now to assure respect for the fairness, and the appearance of fairness, in the Circular A-76 process. With the prospect of congressional action implementing more radical changes, 0MB should amend Circular A-76 and allow federal employees and their union representatives the limited right of pursuing nonstatutory protests at GAO in certain larger and complex competitive sourcing cases. Additionally, by strengthening the AAP, DoD and the military departments may speed the resolution of disputes and make unnecessary additional review at GAO.Air Force Inst of Tech Wright-Patterson AFB OH is the author of 'Assuring Respect for the OMB Circular A-76 Competitive Sourcing Process', published 2002 under ISBN 9781423549215 and ISBN 142354921X.