PATUXENT RIVER NAVAL AIR STATION, MD—Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division announced Wednesday its tentative decision to retain in-house its Administrative Support Services function after a 48-month long public/private competition process.

This process, known as a commercial activity study, is governed by the Office of Management and Budget A-76 circular, which allows the federal government and the private sector to compete for commercial functions currently performed by the government.

The result of this competition determines which source can perform more efficiently and with less cost to the taxpayer. The Pax Campus Admin Support Services study began in June 1999 as a result of the Navy’s initiative to reduce its costs.

As a result of this competition, the government workforce has been selected to retain the work in-house, pending the results of the appeal process. Following the appeal process, the optimum Government organization, known as the “Most Efficient Organization,” will be implemented.

The Most Efficient Organization incorporates improvements in areas such as operations, staffing, and equipment utilization. The appeal review period began on June 18 and will last 20 working days. During the review period, directly affected parties may file written appeals to the contracting officer based on specific objections and request a review of the cost comparison results through the Agency Appeals Procedure.

The appeal procedure will be used to resolve questions concerning the calculation of the cost comparison only and will not apply to questions concerning selection of one contractor for the cost comparison in preference to another. All appeals must be received no later than July 17, 2003.

Further information regarding the appeal process may be obtained by contacting Michael Mumford at 301-757-9705.

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