Bruce F. Vento: “I rise with some concerns about this measure, S. 314. I was not aware that it was scheduled for the suspension calendar.…”

“I rise with some concerns about this measure, S. 314. I was not aware that it was scheduled for the suspension calendar. I am a little surprised to see it here because it takes on a profound policy. I know my colleague from Tennessee and others have been working on this matter, but it is not like the national government does not contract anything out in terms of enlisting the talents of the private sector and the free market in our economy to serve the functions and provide the services that the national government holds itself out to provide. In fact, we do $110 billion worth of contracting out annually. As I see it, there are some concerns here, and one has to do with this would have an impact upon the OMB circular A-76 policy, the cost comparison study system. Currently Federal employees regularly lose the competitions conducted under this OMB circular 76. Only a few years ago Federal employees lost almost 70 percent of all those contracts. The various provisions that are inherent in A-76 which provides the ability to appeal and to challenge these types of contracting out are impacted by this measure regard the list anticipated by this measure. Private competition of work and government tasks which are inherently governmental represent a serious problem. This measure would allow contractors to protest agency decisions through this listing process.”