Synopsis of GAO Reports Involving Contracting Out Under OMB Circular A-76

In response to a congressional request, GAO synopsized the 10 reports which it has issued during the last 2 fiscal years on activities which were contracted out following Office of Management and Budget Circular A-76 policy.

In general, the reports showed that: (1) in some instances, the costs included in cost comparisons were questionable; (2) some decisions to contract out were made without the required cost comparisons; (3) required studies were not always made to determine if the function in question was being performed in-house in the most efficient and cost effective manner; (4) some statements of work were incomplete; and (5) some contractor bids were understated because newly published Department of Labor wage rates were not supplied to bidders.