Washington, D.C. - U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Kay Coles James today announced that OPM employees have won a streamlined competition.  It has been determined that employees of the Computer Assistants and Building Management Assistant activity, located in OPM's Division for Human Resources Products and Services Center for Talent Services in Macon, Georgia, can perform the activity for far less money than private sector competitors.

The estimated private sector contract price developed as part of the competition for this activity to cover a five-year performance period was $8,938,367, compared to the OPM employees' Most Efficient Organization (MEO) proposal of $4,864,974, based on staffing with 18 employees.

"Federal employees at Team OPM invested time and effort in the spirit of the A-76 process, to identify efficiencies in their processes and performance," stated James. "Not only will the activity be better performed by the federal employees, but the American taxpayer will save hard-earned money in the process."

The computer assistants and building management assistant activity is composed of 21 computer assistants, GS-5-9, and one GS-5 building management assistant. The computer assistants provide technical advice and support in an information technology (IT) environment, providing IT systems design and web hosting services for a variety of federal agencies.

"This competition demonstrates that OPM employees are able to perform this activity for $4,073,393 less than the private sector," stated Clarence Crawford, OPM's associate director for Management and Chief Financial Officer. "Implementing the MEO will reduce the cost of performing this activity by approximately $1,033,907 over the five-year performance period. This is a significant savings for the American taxpayer."

Including this streamlined competition, OPM has conducted a total of 12 streamlined and standard competitions involving a total of 408 employees. OPM employees have won all 12 competitions. The estimated five-year cost savings and cost-avoidance for these 12 competitions is $57.5 million.

Competitions between federal employees and private sector companies for work that is not inherently governmental is a component of President George W. Bush's Management Agenda, which calls for a federal work force that is customer-focused, citizen-centered, and results-oriented.

Our mission is to ensure the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce. OPM supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.