SIN 874-6 Privatization Support Services and Documentation (A-76)
 

Altarum provides expert advice, consultation, assistance, and documentation in support of studies conducted under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-76 and other privatization or commercial activities studies, projects, and efforts. Altarum has a well-established history of providing expertise in management analysis, work measurement, value engineering, cost analysis, procurement, and other aspects of activities under study, such as:

Strategic, Business, and Operational Planning

Effective strategic planning is the foundation of any organization's long-term success. By establishing strategic goals and objectives for the organization, a good strategic plan supports prioritization and focusing of people, resources, and efforts toward the critical factors that determine success. Altarum provides support in developing, packaging, and disseminating strategic objectives to ensure that strategic thinking in the A-76 process reaches every member of the organization for many layers of operational support.

Altarum's strategic, business, and action planning services support MOBIS by helping our clients develop strategic and operational goals and objectives that define organizational success, and develop the plans, processes, and procedures to achieve them.

Cost Comparison Analysis

At the heart of the A-76 process is the cost comparison function. Typically, this consists of six major components:

• The Development of a Performance Work Statement (PWS) and Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP). The PWS is crucial to ensuring a fair and accurate request for solicitation; it defines what is being requested, the performance standards and measures, and timeframes required. It provides the technical performance sections of the Request for Proposal (RFP) or Invitation for Bid (IFB). The PWS should always be performance-oriented, specifying what outputs or measures are desired and limiting directions as to how the results are achieved. Altarum has extensive experience and functional expertise in developing performance work statements in many lines of business commonly used for outsourcing assessments. An effective QASP is critical for government to monitor in-house or contract performance and ensure that the standards of the PWS are met. Altarum applies its well-defined and fully documented internal quality assurance procedures and methodologies to ensure that client quality requirements and performance standards are clearly defined and effectively enforced.
• Performance of a Management Study to Determine the Government's Most Efficient Organization (MEO). Benchmarking is a common practice allowing commercial organizations to compare their performance with other organizations in order to compete with "best in class" or most efficient/effective practices of industry leaders. The A-76 competitive process encourages government activities to consider these same implications. Altarum's services support clients in identifying the Most Efficient Organization (MEO). The MEO is typically based on the Performance Work Statement, and also serves as the government costs basis on the cost comparison form.
• Development of an In-House Government Cost Estimate (IGCE). Development of an accurate IGCE, describing all costs associated with the performance of the MEO, is essential for making meaningful cost comparisons and business analysis. Altarum has extensive experience in developing ICGEs for a wide variety of programs and initiatives and is fully versed in the A-76 standards.
  Issuance of the Request for Proposal (RFP) or Invitation for Bid (IFB). Altarum's breadth and depth of experience in supporting federal government acquisition programs makes us uniquely qualified to support clients in the development of technical and functional requirements, decision support analyses, and documentation to support RFP/IFB preparation.
• Comparison of the In-House Bid against a Proposed Contract or Interservice Support Agreement (ISSA) Price. Altarum has extensive experience and expertise in cost-benefit analysis applicable to comparing in-house and ISSA bid estimates, and is completely familiar with OMB guidance for A-76 cost evaluation and documentation. Altarum's comparisons of in-house bids to the ISSA prices ensure there are minimum cost differentials as required by OMB.
• The Administrative Appeal Process. Altarum ensures the administrative appeals process is in place to confirm that all costs entered on the Cost Comparison Form (CCF) are fair, accurate, and calculated in accordance with A-76 processes and procedures. Altarum has extensive experience supporting government cost reporting requirements and has the expertise to apply that experience to this critical function. 

Altarum's cost comparison services support MOBIS by providing a complete, thorough, and analytically sound basis to support A-76 decisions.

Assessments and/or Studies of Potential Privatization Initiatives

The government desires to achieve efficiency, without compromising inherent government functions, when it considers privatization options. Outside assessments, with fair comparisons for a "level playing field" must be made with the government's uniqueness taken under consideration. Altarum has experience with privatization studies in a wide area of logistics, distribution, asset allocation, and vendor delivery practices.

Altarum's privatization initiative assessment services support MOBIS by providing our clients with practical and effective recommendations on the initiatives under consideration, backed up by solid, fully documented analysis.

Public-Private Partnership Support

Altarum has utilized its experience to combine private operations knowledge with government subject matter expertise. We have participated in Integrated Products Teams (IPTs) with government agencies to facilitate the integration of best commercial practices into government processes and procedures. We consulted on the development of acquisition practices such as performance-based contracting, where government clients and contractors share in procurement success.

Altarum's public-private partnership services support MOBIS by facilitating the integration of government and industry participants into effective, performance-based work teams.