This new development might have a PROFOUND impact at NASA, right?

"Bush Administration Puts 850,000 Federal Jobs Up for Private Sector
Bids"
Associated Press

Original AP article

: President Bush plans to subject as many as 850,000 federal jobs to
: competition from the private sector, administration officials said
: Thursday, a sweeping reform long sought by Republicans and stiffly
: opposed by labor unions.

: Nearly half of the government's civilian work force could be
: affected by the plan to be published in the Federal Register on
: Friday. After a 30-day public review period, Bush can impose the new
: rules without congressional approval.

: "This is inherent to getting the taxpayers the best deal for their
: dollars and the best service from the government," said Trent Duffy,
: spokesman for the Office of Management and Budget.

: Bush and his fellow Republicans have long favored opening public
: sector jobs to competition from outside government. They argue that
: competitive bidding will force government bureaucracies to improve
: service and lower costs - or lose business to the private sector.

: Current federal rules allow for public-private competition,
: administration officials say, but the regulations are so cumbersome
: that private firms are often reluctant to seek government contracts.

: Under the plan, "commercial activities" conducted by the government
: - from lawn mowing to hanging drywall and secretarial work - will be
: open to competition.

: One reform would encourage agencies to complete competitive bid
: reviews within a year. Under current rules, the competitive bid
: process can take four years - a delay that scares off private sector
: bids, officials said.

: Rules under which the government buys goods and services will be
: streamlined to allow for more competitive bidding, officials said.

: The Government Accounting Office has determined that public-private
: competition will save taxpayers 30 percent on each contract.