Identifying IT Jobs

The White House on Wednesday issued draft guidance that seeks to clarify the definition of work that should be performed by federal workers instead of private contractors. Federal News Radio reports that demonstration projects taking place at 24 federal agencies will examine how agencies are using contractors and whether they are relying too heavily on them.

There are jobs so directly tied to the public interest, such as awarding contracts, determining budget requests and hiring federal workers, that should without a doubt be performed by government workers, the draft guidance states. But other tasks, such as managing information technology, are not so clearly defined. But Dan Gordon, administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, told Federal News Radio that 12 of the 24 agencies participating in the pilot programs identified acquisition or technology positions being performed by contractors that may actually need to be done by federal employees.

"The solution doesn't need to be insourcing, it could mean shifting work to existing federal employees, it could be better supervision of the work or better management of contractors doing the work," Gordon said. "There is not one solution for all situations."

In June, federal Chief Performance Officer Jeffrey Zients testified that he would support a clearer definition of inherently governmental work but noted that certain functions like technology could benefit from a multisector workforce. Where does this issue stand at your agency? Are there levels of IT work that should be shifted from private contractors to government workers?