To summarize policies for determining whether commercial activities shall be performed under contract by a commercial source or internally using government resources. Coordinates Agency implementation of Circular A-76 and advises Agency personnel regarding its provisions. The statements contained within the .5 section of this ADS chapter are the official Agency policies and corresponding essential procedures.
Competition enhances quality, economy and productivity.
Whenever private sector performance of a Government-operated commercial activity is permissible, a cost comparison shall be performed. The Agency shall not begin or carry out an activity to provide a commercial product or service if the product or service can be procured more economically from a commercial source. The PWS provides a baseline for comparing the cost of performing a function in-house and through the private sector. Activities exceeding 10 FTEs must undergo cost comparisons. Commercial activities exceeding 10 FTEs shall not be modified, reorganized, divided or in any way changed for the purpose of circumventing cost comparison requirements.