Cancellations and Delays in Completion of Department of Defense A-76 Cost Comparisons

Publication Date: January 1997

Publisher: RAND Corporation

Author(s): Edward G. Keating

Research Area: Military and defense

Type: Brief

Abstract:

The Department of Defense (DoD) has recently increased its use of A-76 public/private cost comparisons. This documented briefing examines the history of A-76 public/private cost comparisons in the DoD using data covering fiscal years 1978-1994. A-76 refers to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) circular A-76, which mandates the process for competition for work between Government--Government employees and contractors. A fuller understanding of this history may provide insights as to how future cost comparisons might progress as well as suggest possible policy changes to improve future outcomes. It is thought that cost comparisons might reduce infrastructure costs and/or increase military effectiveness. As a note of caution, however, this study finds that since 1978 there have been approximately five A-76 cost comparisons cancelled for every eight completed. Further, those completed have often taken two years or longer to complete. The briefing considers DoD cost comparison background, patterns of cost comparison cancellations, and durations of completed comparisons.