PBO Toolbox
Sample Waivers
One component of becoming a performance-based organization is for agencies to seek waivers from government rules and regulations that hinder business-like practices. Here are twelve waivers the Defense Commissary Agency is pursuing as it becomes the federal government's first performance-based organization.
Establish commissary single fund
Current law prohibits DeCA from transferring money among its operations, inventory, and surcharge funds. Thus, if the agency saves money in its inventory fund by reducing spillage and waste, it cannot apply those savings to building maintenance, which falls under the operations fund.
Invest surcharge collected from commissary patrons
The 5 percent surcharge commissary customers pay covers 25% of DeCA's operating costs. Generating revenue by investing that money could reduce the amount of money Congress must appropriate the agency.
Exemption from commodity assignments/Coordinated Acquisition Program
Some products DeCA buys must currently be procured through a central DoD acquisition authority. Agency officials say allowing DeCA to buy those products directly from suppliers would reduce costs and speed up delivery time.
Delegation of authority to deviate from acquisition regulations
DeCA says that while current acquisition reforms have helped make procurements more efficient, the agency could use even greater leeway in buying procedures.
Elimination of Readiness Charge on Transportation
The Defense Transportation System charges a wartime readiness fee to all overseas shipments, including DeCA's grocery shipments, making transportation costs significantly higher than they would be through a commercial carrier.
Compete Defense Finance and Accounting Service accounting and bill paying functions
Though DeCA is pleased with the service DFAS provides, it believes DFAS could reduce its costs if given the incentive to do so.
Adjustment to workyear ceilings and manpower controls
Staffing at commissaries is not currently driven by sales. Greater control of staffing levels would allow commissary managers to use manpower more efficiently.
Adjustment to high-grade ceilings
Number of positions in financial management, personnel, and procurement
Forced reductions in upper-level leadership would be crippling, agency officials say. The 101 high-grade positions DeCA would be reduced to by 1999 would hurt the agency's productivity.
Streamline personnel services
A cost/benefit analysis is being conducted for personnel services. DeCA's ratio of personnel specialist to employee is 1:100, which is the Defense Department's target ratio for FY2000.
Compete long-haul, common-user telecommunications support
DeCA would like to encourage the Defense Informations Systems Agency to streamline its operations by opening up bidding to private firms.
Redelegation of Major Automated Information Systems Review Council (MAISRC) Oversight Authority
The MAISRC reviews Defense agencies' modernization programs. While DeCA would still send the council update reports on DeCA's two modernization programs, DeCA would retain decisionmaking authority over them.
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