SOCIAL SECURITY

News Release

First Competitive Sourcing Study Rates
Social Security Administration “The Best”

Jo Anne Barnhart, Commissioner of Social Security, announced that the results of the Agency’s first OMB Circular A-76 Competitive Sourcing Streamlined Study were decided in favor of the Social Security Administration (SSA). As a result, SSA was able to retain performance of the Agency’s software validation function.

“It is no surprise to me that SSA has proven it is capable of providing the most efficient service with the best value,” said Commissioner Barnhart. “I have said all along that SSA’s employees are among the best not only in the Federal government but as compared to the private sector as well.”

This was one of several competitive sourcing studies currently underway to determine whether the Government or a private contractor can provide the most cost effective service to the American taxpayer. Competitive sourcing is part of the President’s Management Agenda (PMA) – President Bush’s initiatives to improve the management and performance of government. Competitive sourcing implements a PMA guiding principle that government should actively promote innovation through competition.

The functions in the SSA software validation study are performed by 36 employees who maintain, test and validate software changes related to SSA’s automated processing of its work. SSA’s in-house cost estimate for the function was approximately one-third lower than the lowest contract cost in the study.

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