[Federal Register: May 23, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 100)]
[Notices]
[Page 28494-28495]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23my01-88]
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GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE
Commercial Activities Panel
AGENCY: General Accounting Office.
ACTION: Notice of public hearing.
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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 the first of three public
hearings to be held by the Commercial Activities Panel (``the Panel'').
For the first hearing, the Panel is interested in hearing views on the
principles and policies that should govern decisions concerning whether
particular functions should be performed by the public sector or the
private sector.
[[Page 28495]]
DATES: The Commercial Activities Panel will hold a public hearing on
June 11, 2001, beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the Walsh-Reckord Hall of
States at One Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC. Individuals or
groups that wish to attend or participate in the hearing should notify
the Panel and submit written summaries of their statements by June 4,
2001.
ADDRESSES: Submit requests to attend or participate in the hearing,
written summaries of oral statements, and any other relevant materials
via E-mail to A76panel@gao.gov or to the General Accounting Office,
Office of the General Counsel, Room 7476, 441 G St., NW, Washington, DC
20548. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for other information about
electronic filing.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William T. Woods, Project Director,
(202) 512-8214; E-mail: woodsw@gao.gov
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. The first public hearing
will be held on June 11, 2001, in the Walsh-Reckord Hall of States at
One Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. The hearing will begin at
9:00 a.m. The focus of this first hearing will be the principles and
policies underlying outsourcing. Specifically, the Panel is interested
in hearing views on the principles and policies that should govern
decisions concerning whether particular functions should be performed
by the public sector or by the private sector. Future hearings will
focus on other aspects of outsourcing.
Any party who would like to attend the hearing or make a
presentation should contact William T. Woods at (202) 512-8214 or
woodsw@gao.gov. Those who wish to make presentations at the hearing
should submit written summaries of their oral statements via E-mail or
regular mail as indicated in the ADDRESSES section by 5:30 p.m. on June
4, 2001. The Panel will attempt to accommodate all interested parties
who respond before the deadline. Each presenter will have 3 to 5
minutes to make an oral statement at the hearing. Interested parties
who would like to make electronic presentations during the hearing must
indicate their desire to do so by the June 4 deadline. More detailed
guidance on hearing procedures will be provided to presenters by E-mail
in advance of the hearing. Any interested party may submit full
statements for inclusion in the hearing record by 5:30 p.m. on June 15.
The hearing will be transcribed.
Two additional hearings currently are planned outside of
Washington, DC. A public hearing will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana,
on August 8, 2001, which will focus on alternatives to the public/
private competitions conducted pursuant to OMB Circular A-76. Another
public hearing will be held in San Antonio, Texas, on August 15, 2001,
and will address current processes under OMB Circular A-76 and the FAIR
Act. Further information, including the exact locations and times of
these hearings, will be announced in a later Federal Register notice.
In addition, a notice was issued on March 23, 2001 (66 FR 16245),
seeking submission of public comments identifying significant sourcing
issues, as well as references to or copies of written materials related
to these issues. The Panel will continue to consider all such
information received at any time.
Electronic Access and Filing
This notice is available on GAO's website at http://www.gao.gov
under ``Commercial Activities Panel.'' Requests to participate in the
hearing, electronic presentations, written summaries of oral
statements, full statements, and other submissions regarding
outsourcing issues may be sent via E-mail to A76panel@gao.gov.
Dated: May 18, 2001.
Jack L. Brock, Jr.,
Managing Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management, General
Accounting Office.
[FR Doc. 01-13051 Filed 5-22-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1610-02-P