Labor to conduct A-76 competition for financial systems operation

The Labor Department will conduct a study to see if certain functions within its financial accounting office, including IT system support, should be outsourced to the private sector or kept in-house.

In a recent notice, the agency said it is planning a standard competition under Office of Management and Budget Circular A-76 for finance and accounting services. Under A-76, agencies compete inherently commercial federal positions with the private sector.

The tasks that could be outsourced include general accounting, collections and account receivables, payments, reconciliations and reports, travel and financial systems support.

These functions are currently performed by Labor's CFO, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Employment Standards Administration, the Employment and Training Administration, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the Occupational and Safety Health Administration, and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management.

Labor has 12 months to conduct the study and officials said in the notice that it should be done by Jan. 2, 2007.