99-7666. Performance of Commercial Activities  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 30, 1999)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 15190-15191]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-7666]
    
    
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    OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
    
    
    Performance of Commercial Activities
    
    AGENCY: Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the 
    President.
    
    ACTION: Issuance of Transmittal Memorandum No. 19, amending OMB 
    Circular No. A-76, ``Performance of Commercial Activities.''
    
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    SUMMARY: This Transmittal Memorandum updates the Federal pay raise 
    assumptions and inflation factors used for computing the Government's 
    in-house personnel and non-pay costs, as generally provided in the 
    President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2000. In addition, the standard 
    retirement cost factors for the weighted average CSRS/FERS pension and 
    Federal retiree health cost numbers are revised.
    
    DATES: All changes in the Transmittal Memorandum are effective 
    immediately on March 30, 1999, and shall apply to all cost comparisons 
    in process where the Government's in-house cost estimate has not been 
    publicly revealed before this date.
    
    
    [[Page 15191]]
    
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Budget Analysis and Systems 
    Division, NEOB Room 6002, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th 
    Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, Tel. No. (202) 395-6104, FAX No. 
    (202) 395-7230.
    
    Availability
    
        Copies of the current OMB Circular A-76 and the March 1996 OMB 
    Circular A-76 Revised Supplemental Handbook may be obtained by 
    contacting the Executive Office of the President, Office of 
    Administration, Publications Office, Washington, DC 20503, at (202) 
    395-7332. These documents are also accessible on the OMB Home page. The 
    online OMB Home page address (URL) is http:/www.whitehouse.gov/WH/EOP/
    omb.
    Jacob J. Lew,
    Director.
    
    Executive Office of the President,
    
    Office of Management and Budget, Washington, D.C. 20503
    
    March 24, 1999.
    Circular No. A-76 (Revised)
    Transmittal Memorandum No. 19
    To The Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
    Subject: Performance of Commercial Activities
    
        This Transmittal Memorandum updates the Federal pay raise 
    assumptions and inflation factors used for computing the Government's 
    in-house personnel and non-pay costs, as generally provided in the 
    President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2000.
        The non-pay inflation factors are for purposes of A-76 cost 
    comparison determinations only. They reflect the generic non-pay 
    inflation assumptions used to develop the FY 2000 Budget baseline 
    estimates required by law. The law requires that a specific inflation 
    factor (GDP FY/FY chained price index) be used for this purpose. These 
    inflation factors should not be viewed as estimates of expected 
    inflation rates for major long-term procurement items or as an estimate 
    of inflation for any particular agency's non-pay purchases mix.
    
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          military/civilian
       Federal pay raise assumptions effective date           (percent)
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    January 2000......................................                   4.4
    January 2001......................................                   3.9
    January 2002......................................                   3.9
    January 2003......................................                   3.9
    January 2004......................................                   3.9
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        Non-Pay Categories (Supplies and Equipment, etc.)
    FY 1998--1.2%
    FY 1999--1.3%
    FY 2000--2.0%
    FY 2001--2.1%
    FY 2002--2.1%
    FY 2003--2.1%
    FY 2004--2.1%
        Geographic pay differentials received in 1999 shall be included 
    for the development of in-house personnel costs. The above pay raise 
    factors shall be applied after consideration is given to the 
    geographic pay differentials. The pay raise factors provided for 
    2000 and beyond shall be applied to all employees, with no 
    assumption being made as to how they will be distributed between 
    possible locality and ECI-based increases.
        In addition, the standard retirement cost factors for the 
    weighted average CSRS FERS pension and Federal retiree health cost 
    numbers are reduced from those published in the March 1996 A-76 
    Supplemental Handbook. These numbers are being revised because of 
    downward estimates in actuarial normal cost estimates, which more 
    than offset the gradual shift toward FERS in the total. However, the 
    post-retirement health cost was revised up by a full percentage 
    point. The net result is that the cost factors provided at Part II, 
    Chapter 2, paragraph B.6. f. 1.a., are up by 0.3 to 0.6 percentage 
    points. In addition, the current benefit component for Federal 
    employee insurance and health benefits at Part II, Chapter 2, 
    paragraph 6. f. 1.b is revised up by 0.1 percentage points on the 
    health side to 5.7 percent. The Medicare factor of 1.45 at Part II, 
    Chapter 2, paragraph 6. f. 1.b and the cost of miscellaneous fringe 
    benefits of 1.7 percent at Part II, Chapter 2, paragraph 6. f. 1.c 
    ., are unchanged.
    
        Current Handbook--as printed in the March 1996 Revised 
    Supplemental Handbook at Part II, Chapter 2, Paragraph 6.f.1.a (page 
    20):
    23.7% Regular (19.6 pension + 4.1 retiree health)
    32.3% Air Traffic Controllers (28.2 pension + 4.1 retiree health)
    37.7% Law Enforcement (33.6 pension + 4.1 retiree health)
        Revised Handbook--as provided by this Transmittal at Part II, 
    Chapter 2, Paragraph 6.f.1.a (page 20):
    24.0% Regular (18.9 pension + 5.1 retiree health)
    33.0% Air Traffic Controllers (27.9 pension + 5.1 retiree health)
    38.2% Law Enforcement (33.1 pension + 5.1 retiree health)
        Other Current Benefits--as provided at Part II, Chapter 2, 
    Paragraph 6.f.1.b (page 20):
    Current Handbook (March 1996) 5.6%
    Revised per this Transmittal 5.7%
    
        These updates are effective as follows: all changes in the 
    Transmittal Memorandum are effective immediately and shall apply to 
    all cost comparisons in process where the Government's in-house cost 
    estimate has not been publicly revealed before this date.
        Agencies are reminded that OMB Circular No. A-76, Transmittal 
    Memoranda 1 through Transmittal Memorandum 14 are canceled. 
    Transmittal Memorandum No. 15 provided the Revised Supplemental 
    Handbook, and is dated March 27, 1996 (Federal Register, April 1, 
    1996, pages 14338-14346). Transmittal Memoranda No. 16, 17 and 18, 
    which provided the last three year's OMB Circular A-76 Federal pay 
    raise and inflation factor assumptions are also canceled.
    
          Sincerely,
    Jacob J. Lew,
    Director.
    [FR Doc. 99-7666 Filed 3-29-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3110-01-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
3/30/1999
Published:
03/30/1999
Department:
Management and Budget Office
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Issuance of Transmittal Memorandum No. 19, amending OMB Circular No. A-76, ``Performance of Commercial Activities.''
Document Number:
99-7666
Dates:
All changes in the Transmittal Memorandum are effective immediately on March 30, 1999, and shall apply to all cost comparisons in process where the Government's in-house cost estimate has not been publicly revealed before this date.
Pages:
15190-15191 (2 pages)
PDF File:
99-7666.pdf