Managing A-76 Competitions

Develop, Manage, Implement and Evaluate Government Competitions

Competitive sourcing aims to increase efficiency and improve performance, but many agencies still lack adequate training necessary to achieve these goals. Continuous changes to A-76, OMB’s guidance circular for managing public-private competitions, and legislation make it difficult for agency employees to stay on top of the rules of the game. Agencies need to acquire proper training in order to successfully fulfill their responsibility in the A-76 process. In this course, you will learn to develop a comprehensive strategy for competitive sourcing and conduct A-76 compliant competitions that are critical to achieving cost efficiency and performance effectiveness success in your agency.

Key Methodologies Covered

To assist agencies in evaluating performance and costs of commercial activities, the Performance Institute uses a Logic Model approach to develop performance benchmarks and costs for activities. The Logic Model has been used by OMB for guidance relating to budget-performance integration as well as information technology budget justifications. By using the Logic Model for competitive sourcing, agencies can fully integrate the
five PMA elements into a comprehensive approach to management - and meet the new performance accountability and “cost realism” standards of the revised A-76 process.

8:30

Registration & Continental Breakfast

Update: Directives and Developments Affecting the Competitive Sourcing Initiative
• Update on new improvements in PBSA and FAR
• Understand the latest from the Office of Federal Procurement Policy and Circular A-76, as well as current legislation effecting competitive sourcing implementation

Government Performance Acquisition Model
• Enterprise Sourcing Strategy
• Government Business Case
• Most Efficient Organization
• FAR & A-76 Competitions
• Transition Phase
• Contract Management

Networking Luncheon

Step One: Establish the Competitive Sourcing Team and Infrastructure
• Clearly identify and define the roles and responsibilities of the Agency Tender Official, Contracting Officer, Performance Work Statement Leader, Human Resource Advisor and Source Selection Authority
• Create the right infrastructure in order to develop and implement a successful competitive sourcing process in your agency

1:45

Step Two: Determine Jobs for Competition
• Classify jobs as “inherently government” or “commercial” under the FAIR Act
• Understand the role of human resources in the competitive sourcing process

2:30

Step Three: Select Appropriate Competition Method
• Examine how rules regarding the streamlined and standard competitions method can benefit your agency
• Discuss which competition method better suits agency objectives and assess strategies for developing streamlined and standard competitions

3:00

Step Four: Establish and Conduct Competition Plan
• Begin project management planning by identifying the key processes to be used in your competition, establishing performance measures for these processes and determine the current output and level of performance
• Establish a continuing communication and training plan for agency employees

3:45

Step Five: Make Public Announcement
• Devise an announcement which includes what, where, when and why the agency is conducting the competition
• Notify affected employees and parties of the competition, including Congress, on the A-76 competition

Adjourn

8:30

Continental Breakfast

Step Six: Appoint and Train PWS and Most Efficient Organizations (MEO) Teams
• Select individuals for managing both the PWS and MEO teams and assign roles and responsibilities
• Understand the rules of competitive sourcing and the issue of “firewalls” and tackle potential conflicts of interest

Step Seven: Develop PWS and Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP)
• Identify the desired level of performance expected and develop PWS which focuses on outcomes, rather than outputs
• Establish measures in order to maintain continued performance management during the life of contract to improve further results, regardless of whether the public or private sector wins the competition

12:00

Networking Luncheon

1:00

Step Eight: Prepare Government Tender
• Organize a Most Efficient Organization (MEO) that has functional and managerial expertise to create a cost-effective and competitive organization
• Understand the roles of the Most Efficient Organization (MEO) team including: Contracting Officer (CO); Human Resource Advisor (HRA); Agency Tender Official (ATO)

2:00

Step Nine: Evaluate and Select
• Conduct a cost comparison using the COMPARE software
• Understand the roles and responsibilities of the Source Selection Authority (SSA) and learn to apply “best value” criteria

Step Ten: Monitor and Manage Performance
• Establish a clear line of performance objectives and measures to ensure service provider accountability
• Develop strategies for developing and implementing a performance reporting and surveillance system

Adjourn