Competitive Sourcing Program Office (CSPO)

Program Mission:

Use competition between the public and private sectors to enhance the State Department's capability to conduct its vital foreign policy mission while being effective and accountable stewards of the taxpayer's money.

The Program Office is located in the Bureau of Administration.  The CSPO provides oversight and coordinates the annual FAIR Act inventory requirements; issues and implements Competitive Sourcing  policy; provides recommendations to the Competitive Sourcing Official on competitions; monitors competitions and outcomes; and serves as the primary interface with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Strategic Intent:

The long-range vision for Competitive Sourcing at the Department of State is focused on integrating this management tool into business decisions so that it is a regularly considered option for improving the cost-effectiveness, performance, and quality of services.  The Department's vision rests on four tenets that will guide implementation efforts:

•    Competitions should be conducted to improve our ability to satisfy our mission either through performance or cost efficiencies.   •    Bureaus conducting competitions should be able to reinvest any cost savings in their own operations.   •    Competitions should be conducted with a strategy to mitigate adverse impacts on employees.   •    Competitive Sourcing should take into account the unique structure and mission of the Department.