[Federal Register: July 11, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 133)]
[Notices]
[Page 36284-36285]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11jy01-98]
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GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE
Commercial Activities Panel Hearings
AGENCY: General Accounting Office.
ACTION: Notice of public hearings.
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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 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 A76panel@gao.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debra McKinney at (202) 512-8517 or
McKinneyD@gao.gov regarding the Indianapolis, Indiana, hearing; and
Marilyn Wasleski at (202) 512-8436 or WasleskiM@gao.gov 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:
A76panel@gao.gov. 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