(1) determine the activities and positions to be competed,

(2) conduct preliminary research to determine the appropriate grouping of activities as business units consistent with market and industry structures,

(3) assess the availability of workload data, work units, quantifiable outputs of activities or processes, agency or industry performance standards, and other similar data,

(4) establish data collection systems as necessary"

The effort to determine the actual contract deliverables, to include the performance requirement, workload, agency task time standards, etc., presently takes the greatest amount of time in completing an A-76 study. Especially for "white collar" type Government occupations, few agencies have the slightest idea, prior to developing the A-76 study, what are the agency's specific products and services, vice processes, and a measurable statement of end result that can be quantified and verified.

Frankly, the specifications for many of the current A-76 studies merely re-state existing instructions, regulations, manuals, and the like, with no specific performance oriented outcome and performance standard. Currently there are several programs in place where agencies have conducted "business case analyses," "activity based costing," etc., that would lead them to conclude the above described steps have been taken, that their functions are ready for announcement. Those programs do not get down to the level of specific contract specification type "deliverables."

The allowed eight month study preparation time is completely dependent on first completing the steps described above prior to the A-76 announcement.

Criteria for determining if a function is ready for an A-76 study under the new circular

A function is ready for A-76 study when the following conditions are met:

a. The function's specific "contract deliverables" be identified. These deliverables have finite, measurable outputs.

b. A data base has been established in which the employees can record their numbers of deeliverables produced and the associated labor effort. Do not record actions and labor hours for such efforts as answering mail, sending e-mails, or other such actions that are actually part of accomplishing the deliverables.

c. The function's current records identify the previously accomplished quantities and quality of deliverables, to include:

• How many
• Size distribution
• Schedules and response times
• Source of work inputs
• Priority system

d. The level of expertise required to accomplish the deliverables is apparent from a specification description of the deliverables.

e. The function's deliverables can be readily inspected for quality and performance; the outputs of the deliverables can be discretely measured.

f. The deliverables have specific indicators of satisfactory performance, such as:

• Schedule compliance
• Quality of work produced
• Compliance with response requirements
• Degree of user/receiver satisfaction