[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 11, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36284-36285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-17270]


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

GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE


Commercial Activities Panel Hearings

AGENCY: General Accounting Office.

ACTION: Notice of public hearings.

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

SUMMARY: Section 832 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2001 requires the Comptroller General of the United States 
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.'' This notice announces two public hearings to be held 
by the Commercial Activities Panel (``the Panel'').

DATES: The Commercial Activities Panel will hold a public hearing in 
Indianapolis, Indiana, on August 8, 2001, beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the 
University Place Conference Center and Hotel at Indiana University-
Purdue University Indianapolis. Another hearing will be held on August 
15 beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Fiesta Ballroom of the Lackland 
Gateway Club at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. 
Individuals or groups wishing to attend or participate in either of the 
hearings should notify the Panel and submit written summaries of their 
statements by July 25 for the Indianapolis hearing and by August 1 for 
the San Antonio hearing.

ADDRESSES: Submit requests to attend or participate in the hearings, 
written summaries of oral statements, and any other relevant materials 
via E-mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debra McKinney at (202) 512-8517 or 
[email protected] regarding the Indianapolis, Indiana, hearing; and 
Marilyn Wasleski at (202) 512-8436 or [email protected] regarding the 
San Antonio, Texas, hearing.

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 (FAIR) 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 (OMB) Circular A-76. Formation of 
the Panel was announced in the Federal Register on April 17, 2001 (66 
FR 19786). 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.
    During the course of its work, the Panel will hold several public 
hearings. Interested parties are invited to attend these hearings to 
provide their perspectives on sourcing issues. On June 11, 2001, the 
GAO held its first public hearing, which focused on the principles and 
policies underlying outsourcing. The second public hearing will be held 
on August 8, 2001, beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the University Place 
Conference Center and Hotel on the Indiana University-Purdue University 
Indianapolis Campus, 850 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. 
The focus of this hearing will be on alternatives to the current 
outsourcing processes. The third hearing will be held on August 15 
beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Fiesta Ballroom of the Lackland Gateway 
Club, Building 2490, on Kenly Avenue at Lackland Air Force Base, San 
Antonio, Texas. This hearing will address current processes, such as 
OMB Circular A-76, public-private competitions, and the FAIR Act.
    Any party who would like to attend either of the August hearings or 
make a presentation should contact the following E-mail address: 
[email protected]. Those who wish to make presentations at either 
hearing should submit written summaries of their oral statements via 
the same E-mail address. These summaries must be received in our Office 
by July 25, 2001, for the Indianapolis hearing and by August 1, 2001, 
for the San Antonio hearing. The Panel will attempt to accommodate all 
interested parties who respond before these deadlines. Presenters must 
be prepared to limit their oral statements to 3 to 5 minutes. 
Interested parties who would like to make electronic presentations 
during the hearings must indicate their desire to do so by the July 25 
deadline for the Indianapolis hearing and by the August 1 deadline for 
the San Antonio hearing. If time permits, individuals with no

[[Page 36285]]

prepared statements will be given the opportunity to speak, but the 
Panel may not be able to accommodate all such requests. Any individual 
who would like to attend the hearing at Lackland Air Force Base must 
present at any of its gates on the hearing date: (1) A picture 
identification (such as a driver's license), and (2) proof of 
automobile insurance, if driving a vehicle. The gate located closest to 
the Lackland Gateway Club is the Luke East Gate on Military Drive, 
which intersects U.S. Highway 90. More detailed guidance on hearing 
procedures will be provided to presenters by E-mail in advance of the 
hearings. Any interested party may submit full statements for inclusion 
in the hearing records by 5:30 p.m. on August 22. The hearings will be 
transcribed.
    Further information, including hearing transcripts and copies of 
statements by all presenters, will be available on the GAO website, 
www.gao.gov, by clicking on ``Commercial Activities Panel.''

Jack L. Brock, Jr.,
Managing Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management, General 
Accounting Office.
[FR Doc. 01-17270 Filed 7-10-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1610-02-P