The bill also takes several actions directed at concerns the Armed Services Committee has raised this year regarding DoD’s use of contractors.
For example, it says that it is concerned that the department has been using contractors to perform work, especially in combat theaters of operations, that should be performed by in-house employees on grounds that the work is "inherently governmental." It notes that there are similar, but not entirely consistent, definitions of that term in guidance including OMB Circular A-76, the Federal Acquisition Regulation, the Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act and in agency-specific guidance. It orders OMB to come up with a single definition and ensure it is used consistently.
The measure also:
* urges DoD to issue guidelines to honor requests from the military services for cancellations, deferrals or reductions in scope of competitions ordered at higher levels;
* requires that a DoD employee serve as the program system integrator in all performance based logistics contracts;
* puts new limits on personal service contracts;
* sets a 540 time limit from the beginning of preliminary planning to the rendering of the performance decision for any competition conducted under A-76; and
* orders a suspension of competitions within DoD through the end of fiscal 2011.
