Development of a Uniform Reporting System for Employment of Consultants

Under proper authorization, the services of consultants may be procured by Federal agencies when to do so is more economical than hiring permanent workers. Concerns have been expressed about whether agencies properly and effectively employ and use consultants. Most agencies do not maintain reliable data on use of consultants and this lack of information available to the public has led to suspicions that consultants improperly influence decision making. A uniform, practical, effective information system and adequate reporting are needed. To establish such an information system, a standard definition must be adopted, the components of the system identified, and a single authority and operators of the system designated. The Civil Service Commission's definition of a consultant contained in FPM chapter 304 could be adopted, with some modifications, for Government-wide use. The computerized Federal Procurement Data System being developed by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy to provide information on individual contracts for services in excess of $10,000 is not expected to be operational until late 1978.