[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 57 (Friday, March 23, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16245-16246]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7238]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE


Commercial Activities Panel

AGENCY: General Accounting Office.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Section 832 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2001 requires the Comptroller General to convene a panel of 
experts to study the transfer of commercial activities currently 
performed by government employees to federal contractors, a procedure 
commonly known as ``contracting out'' or ``outsourcing.'' Selection of 
panel members is proceeding, and the formation of the panel will be 
announced in a subsequent Federal Register notice. To ensure that the 
panel considers the full array of possible issues and a wide range of 
views, this notice seeks public input on issues the panel should 
address. This notice also seeks reference to or copies of written 
materials on topics related to outsourcing. The General Accounting 
Office encourages input from all interested parties, including federal 
government agencies, federal employees or their representatives, 
industry groups, labor unions, and individuals. All submissions 
received will be reviewed for consideration by the panel.

[[Page 16246]]

The authorization act requires the Comptroller General to submit the 
panel's report to Congress by May 1, 2002.

DATES: Submit comments and submissions on or before May 7, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically to GAO at: [email protected]. 
Send comments and submissions to the General Accounting Office, Office 
of General Counsel, Room 7476, 441 G St. NW., Washington, DC 20548, 
Attention: William T. Woods. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for other 
information about electronic filing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William T. Woods, Project Director, 
(202) 512-8214; E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 832 of the Floyd D. Spence National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001, Public Law 106-398, 
Oct. 30, 2000, directs the Comptroller General of the United States to 
convene a panel of experts to study the policies and procedures 
governing the transfer of commercial activities for the federal 
government from government personnel to a federal contractor. The 
panel's study is to include a review of: (1) Procedures for determining 
whether functions should continue to be performed by government 
personnel; (2) procedures for comparing the costs of performing 
functions by government personnel with the costs of performing those 
functions by federal contractors; (3) implementation by the Department 
of Defense of the Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act of 1998 (Pub. 
L. 105-270, 112 Stat. 2382, 31 U.S.C. 501 note); and (4) procedures of 
the Department of Defense for public-private competitions under Office 
of Management and Budget Circular A-76. By May 1, 2002, the Comptroller 
General must submit to Congress a report of the panel on the results of 
the study, including recommended changes with regard to implementing 
policies and enactment of legislation.
    The Act requires the Comptroller General or a person within GAO 
designated by him to serve as the panel's chairman. The Comptroller 
General must appoint highly qualified and knowledgeable persons to 
serve on the panel and must ensure that the following entities receive 
fair representation on the panel: (1) The Department of Defense; (2) 
persons in private industry; (3) federal labor organizations; and (4) 
the Office of Management and Budget.
    The General Accounting Office is in the process of forming a panel 
to conduct the study. The GAO issued a Federal Register notice on 
December 1, 2000, 65 FR 75288, inviting the public to submit 
suggestions on the composition of the panel. The GAO invited interested 
parties to submit suggestions on who should serve on the panel, 
specific agencies and organizations that should be represented, and the 
qualifications of panel members. In response to this notice, the GAO 
received a variety of comments on the composition of the panel, as well 
as numerous nominations of individuals to serve on the panel. The 
Comptroller General is in the process of reviewing these comments and 
nominations. Formation of the panel will be announced in a subsequent 
Federal Register notice.
    In preparing for the panel's discussions, the GAO is asking now for 
input from interested parties, including federal government agencies, 
federal employees or their representatives, industry groups, labor 
unions, and individuals. At this time, the GAO is seeking comments 
identifying significant sourcing issues, as well as references to or 
copies of written materials related to these issues, including: (1) 
Determining which functions should be performed by the government and 
which functions are potential candidates for outsourcing; (2) options, 
mechanisms, and best practices for determining how commercial 
activities should be performed; and (3) issues involving Office of 
Management and Budget Circular A-76. GAO invites submission of 
comments, articles, and publications on these issues or other key 
topics the panel should address. As the panel proceeds with its work, 
it will solicit public comments on relevant issues through a variety of 
means, including public hearings.

Electronic Access and Filing

    This notice is available on GAO's website at http://www.gao.gov 
under ``Commercial Activities Panel.'' Comments and suggestions on the 
issues that should be addressed and references to or copies of written 
materials may be submitted by sending either an E-mail to 
[email protected] or a hard copy to the General Accounting Office, 
Office of General Counsel, Room 7476, 441 G St. NW., Washington, DC 
20548, Attention: William T. Woods.

Jack L. Brock, Jr.,
Managing Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management, General 
Accounting Office.
[FR Doc. 01-7238 Filed 3-22-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1610-02-P