Trading places

Pending legislation offers corporate IT pros the chance to walk in the shoes of their government peers.

By Suzanne Gaspar
Network World, 08/19/02

A proposed public-private partnership between IT workers in the federal government and the private sector could help corporations cut through the red tape of federal contracts and give them a close look at the regulatory pressures, operating structures, and paperwork requirements that various government agencies face.

The Digital Tech Corps Act of 2002 would establish a mechanism for government agencies and companies to exchange midlevel IT management in a six-month to two-year rotation. Workers would cover various IT duties, including systems management, integration projects and security.

Authored by U.S. Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.), the legislation was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives in April. U.S. Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) introduced a companion bill in February, and it was referred to the Senate's subcommittee on International Security.

The legislation awaits the Sept. 3 restart of the congressional session, but it may be low on the list for the Democrat-controlled Senate. If the measure passes, any differences between the House and Senate versions will be hashed out, passed back for final votes, then presented as a bill for President Bush's signature.

The program would give both groups of participants an opportunity to round out their resum�s. Companies placing staff within the government will gain an inside edge on navigating decentralized, politicized departments. Meanwhile, federal workers will siphon off best practices for project management as they train in corporations.

"It's a chance to walk in each other's shoes," says Olga Grkavac, executive vice president for the Information Technology Association of America in Arlington, Va. The knowledge share would improve relationships and understanding on both sides of government contract development.

"Government employees could learn about different contract vehicles, such as performance-based contracting, which are used in the private sector and are still uncommon in government agencies," says David Marin, a spokesman for Davis. In performance-based contracting, the customer specifies the desired outcome and leaves it up to the vendor to determine the process for achieving the specified results.

"Virtually any company that is trying to understand the government as a huge buying center will benefit," says Diane Tunick-Morello, a Gartner analyst. The Digital Tech Corps Act is touted as a big opportunity for nongovernment suppliers because of the government's emphasis on negotiations. Companies that have ties to government contracting will be highly scrutinized to guard against prejudice or a bidding advantage.

Regardless, systems integrators, such as Electronic Data Systems (EDS) and KPMG Consulting, already involved with government contracts are excited about the legislation.

Booth Jameson, director of global and governmental affairs for EDS, says the program gives firms a chance to better understand specific contract details and the daily challenges faced by federal IT staff. In turn, government staffers would gain professional development by training with a high-performance company. "If we help them, and they help us, it will improve everyone's bottom line," he says.

KPMG Consulting also is betting on a win-win exchange, and looking forward to its staff working on reformation projects that will make a difference in the quality of life in the country, says Rich Roberts, senior vice president of Federal Services in McLean, Va. For example, KPMG staff can work with facial and retinal biometric technologies, smart cards and intrusion-detection systems to advance homeland security and protect against cyberterrorism. "The people we would send would be our stars," Roberts says.

Pulling a federal person onboard mandates a look at skills and current projects for identifying the best opportunities, Roberts says. "We'll look across our whole practice to identify what will offer them maximum visibility," he says.

As for eligibility, federal IT workers would participate at the GS-12 to GS-15 level. In corporations, that translates to employees with decision-making authority and at least six years of experience in procurement, enterprise architecture planning, network installation or change management processes. Critical behavioral competencies will include adaptability, political savvy and ability to exchange knowledge and experience gained, Tunick-Morello says.

While the legislation is aiming for a one-for-one exchange, it's not meant to be a quid pro quo. The details of the work parameters of the agreement will be crafted between the two parties, says Mike Dovilla, Senate Government Affairs staffer for Voinovich.

"There will be less concern with letting the federal staff out and more concern with letting private folks inside the walls of the department," he says.

The U.S. Department of Defense is interested, but cautious. There may be some hesitation in allowing a federal employee to be assigned without getting a worker in exchange, says Joyce France, program manager for the Department of Defense's IT workforce in Arlington, Va.