Though CRS does not issue recommendations, it basically did so by putting forward options for improving the A-76 process for Congress to consider.
For example, is said Congress could require more specific reporting on the status of ongoing A-76 competitions, and prohibit numerical quotas in competitive sourcing.
Military medical facilities might not be the best place to try to save money, the report said, and asked Congress to consider determining all activities in those facilities inherently governmental.
Congress might also want to prohibit the inclusion of health care and retirement costs in the cost comparison process, which could preclude the rewarding of contractors for providing benefits that are less than those provided by the federal government, according to CRS.
It said Congress should ensure that the A-76 rules are followed, as there appears to be no authority to do so and as a result, many parties lose confidence in the A-76 process.
Additional options CRS advanced include giving federal employees the same rights as private sector contractors throughout the competition process, giving agencies incentives to achieve the benefits of competitions through other means, such as creating "high-performing organizations," and canceling outstanding competitions conducted under the pre-2003 A-76.
