Chris Van Hollen: “Mr. Chairman, I think one thing we agree on is that what we want is the best deal for the taxpayer, and the way to get…”

“Mr. Chairman, I think one thing we agree on is that what we want is the best deal for the taxpayer, and the way to get the best deal for the taxpayer is to have a fair competition process between the Federal employees and between private contractors who are competing for that. That is how we get the best deal. What this new circular does is tips the playing field in favor of private contractors. That is the only way the association of private contractors would be able to predict in advance now before any of the bids have been placed that Federal employees will only win 10 percent of the contracts in the future, in contrast to about 60 percent now. I outlined a specific series of fatally flawed problems with the new circular. I have not heard any response to any of them. One, Federal employees are not given the opportunity to come forward with their best bids; two, we are not guaranteed any savings under the new process, although we were under the other process; three, artificially inflated overhead costs in Federal employee bids that put them at a disadvantage. Many other problems, unfairness with regard to health benefits. Those are all problems. I represent many Federal employees, and I know that the organization that represents Federal employees, the American Federal Government Employees Group, is against this new circular. They speak for their fellow Federal employees.”