But some say DoD is too confident that outsourcing saves money. Depot managers believe contractors low-ball their bids in order to get the work and raise their prices once the competition is eliminated, says Federal Managers Association President Michael Styles. Managers at 21 Defense depots around the country are protesting an outsourcing initiative aimed at putting 220,000 civilian jobs up for competition with private firms. The services' headquarters told managers to tap more jobs for possible outsourcing this year. Managers are concerned DoD is jeopardizing its ability to meet its national security mission, Styles says.
Private industry is in business to make a profit.
Outsourcing is not always the best deal. In fact, federal employees recently beat private contractors in a competition for depot maintenance work at a closing Air Force base in California because they could perform the work cheaper. In the technically complex world of defense, the inherently governmental functions encompass more than just policy decisions about force structure and missions. The government should promote research and development in its laboratories and centers to help employees understand technology that could be used to solve military problems. The military program managers who deal with the private sector on engineering development need this knowledge to weigh acquisition decisions.