Talking Points
- Oppose requirement for agency studies on contracting out of AE services.
- Oppose efforts to alter the current public/private partnership.
NSPE Position
- NSPE opposes efforts to reduce the services that the federal government can contract out to the private sector.
- NSPE believes that government must concentrate its energies and resources on things that are central to its mission. The government should not be in competition with private tax-paying firms and individuals that have the capabilities of providing the goods and services required.
- NSPE believes there is a need for engineers in government and engineers in private practice to engage in complementary engineering activities. However, government agencies should not be authorized to provide engineering services when such services are available or can reasonably be made available from outside private firms or individuals.
- NSPE supports engineering organizations within public agencies that are competently and sufficiently staffed to perform a base load of long term, essential, in-house engineering assignments for the agency.
Background
Federal employee unions, as well as some management groups, are making opposition to the contracting out of government services a top legislative priority. These unions are attempting to use the legislative process to restrict the executive branch's ability to contract out for commercial activities, such as architectural and engineering services.
In 2003, the federal Office of Management and Budget released the long-awaited revision of Circular No. A-76, the regulations that guide competitive sourcing for the federal government. The new A-76 rules will make it easier for the federal government to outsource and will no doubt increase the amount of activity on this issue in Congress.
