Director's Message 10/11/02

     There have been frequent references in the newspaper lately that the President’s administration plans to place half of all federal civilian employees up for competition from private contractors in the next few years. This policy would affect DoDEA and the DoDDS Pacific workforce; therefore, I wanted to briefly discuss it with you as well as outline the process by which this national policy is being implemented.

     The background for this management initiative is contained in Circular A-76 that is issued by the Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget (OMB). “In the process of governing, the Government should not compete with its citizens. The competitive enterprise system, characterized by individual freedom and initiative, is the primary source of national economic strength. In recognition of this principle, it has been and continues to be the general policy of the Government to rely on commercial sources to supply the products and services the Government needs.” As a result of this vision, OMB has directed all federal agencies to review their workforce to evaluate if there are efforts being accomplished by government workers that are not inherently governmental in nature. If these activities are essentially commercially available, then these will be competed according to federal procurement rules in a cost comparison with the private sector. This policy implements the statutory requirements of the Federal Activities Inventory Reform (FAIR) Act of 1998, Public Law 105-270. Circular A-76 dictates the procedures for identifying commercial activities and the steps that must be taken to accomplish the cost comparison. DoDEA has a Commercial Activities Program Office (CAPO) that was established to ensure that DoDEA is in compliance with these federal statutes, policies and regulations. The CAPO provides guidance to DoDDS Pacific in regards to our obligations concerning the FAIR Act and Circular A-76.

     DoDEA has made an agency decision to exempt teachers from this process, and at this time is reviewing specific support functions. Our Information Technology Division (IT) is currently accomplishing the many steps required by Circular A-76. The Administrative Technologists are studying their function and quantifying their workload. Educational Technologists and Information Specialists are also contributing to this IT workload analysis as appropriate. This effort will result in a Performance Work Statement (PWS) that is made available to interested parties in the private sector. Once this is accomplished, DoDDS Pacific will create a management plan to determine the government’s most efficient organization (MEO). We are then required to establish a government cost estimate for the MEO that will be certified by an independent review official (IRO). The IRO has a legal obligation to ensure this cost estimate can accomplish the workload quantified in the PWS and adhere to the costing policies set forth in Circular A-76. After seeking offers from private sector sources, our procurement specialists will issue a contract solicitation. The DoDEA Source Selection Board will be responsible for identifying the best offer submitted in response to the solicitation and compare it to the MEO cost estimate. The service provider with the best value at the lowest cost to the American taxpayer will then be selected.

     DoDDS Pacific has an obligation to pursue additional Circular A-76 studies such as above school level logistics, transportation, financial management, procurement, and personnel functions. During the next few years we will see many of our DoDDS Pacific service support employees involved in these reviews. We have become as good as we are administratively due to the contributions of these dedicated employees. Their participation in this process will make us the most effective and efficient organization possible.

     NOTE: To find out more about this program visit the DoDEA web site at www.odedodea.edu/capo/

Nancy C. Bresell
Director, DoDDS Pacific