An Analysis of Industry's Perspective on the Recent Changes to Circular A-76
Abstract
The U.S. Federal Government spends greater than $150 billion every year on services, making it one of the world's largest purchasers. Because of the large monetary value and the vast number of public- and private-sector jobs involved, the decision of who is the best provider of these services is an important and often highly charged issue. This article intends to improve understanding of the significance of the recent changes made to the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Circular A-76 entitled, "Performance of Commercial Activities." It also intends to offer insight into industry's perspective on the revised process. OMB's Circular A-76 establishes federal policy for the competition of commercial activities. It embodies the long-standing policy of the Federal Government to rely on the private sector for needed commercial services to ensure that the American people receive the maximum value for their tax dollars. Maximum value is attained through the introduction of competition; when forced to compete, government and commercial service providers streamline their operations and improve efficiency. It is this improved efficiency that has yielded significant savings and increased preparedness. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the recent changes made to A-76, the "old" process (pre-May 2003) is compared and contrasted to the "new" process (post-May 2003). To capture data relating to how industry views the latest changes to the A-76 process, the researcher interviewed a businessman from an industry familiar with the government's outsourcing policies. The individual selected for study is a Vice President for Business Development at a major corporation. The 40-minute interview was conducted via telephone and recorded. The interview transcript was then studied using qualitative analysis techniques. What emerged were three themes revealing the interviewee's opinion and attitude towards the revised A-76 process.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA498694
Entities
People
- William B. Stevens
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School