After the wing is deactivated, the remaining 158 military personnel and 433 civilian personnel will be reassigned to existing or new organizations, located principally at Tinker and Keesler AFBs. As a result of the deactivation and restructuring, 1,752, or 75 percent, of the unit’s 2,343 positions would be eliminated, while 591 would be reassigned elsewhere. Applicability of OMB Circular A-76 and 10 U.S.C. According to the Air Force, A-76 does not apply to its plan because the deactivation of the 38th EIW does not constitute a conversion of the performance of an activity by civilian DOD employees as envisioned under the circular. The Air Force plan to deactivate the 38th EIW and transfer its E&I activities to other organizations within the Air Force or to the ANG is a comprehensive change to the missions and responsibilities of the 38th EIW. 2461. The study also found that another $5 million will be saved due to the cancellation of building construction projects at Tinker AFB. Similarly, the planned action is not a change of the kind contemplated by 10 U.S.C. 2461. Accordingly, the Air Force was not required to perform the cost study and provide congressional notification under that provision. At the same time, the Air Force’s business case analysis supports the cost-effectiveness of the proposed action, with the reduction of a significant number of personnel. Scope and Methodology

To determine whether the planned action was subject to the requirements of OMB Circular A-76, we reviewed the Air Force’s programming and implementation plans and reviewed and analyzed Circular A-76. To determine whether the Air Force action was subject to the requirements of 10 U.S.C. A recorded menu will provide information on how to obtain these lists.
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO provided information on whether the Air Force complied with relevant policy and congressional notification requirements in reaching a decision to deactivate the 38th Engineering Installation Wing (EIW) at Tinker Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma, focusing on: (1) the scope of the Air Force's planned action; (2) whether it is subject to the requirements of Office and Management Budget (OMB) Circular A-76 and 10 U.S.C. 2461; and (3) whether an analysis was completed to examine the cost-effectiveness of the planned action.

What GAO Found

GAO noted that: (1) the Air Force plans to deactivate the 38th EIW, headquartered at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, and transfer its wartime mission to the Air National Guard without increasing the Guard's authorized end-strength; (2) about 75 percent, or 1,752, of the unit's authorized positions will be eliminated, while 591 positions will be reassigned to existing or new organizations to assume responsibilities previously assigned to the 38th EIW; (3) these changes are expected to result in one-time savings of $33 million and annual recurring savings of $28 million; (4) the proposed action is a comprehensive restructuring of an active component unit, largely transferring its wartime mission to the National Guard; (5) it is not the type of action historically associated with OMB Circular A-76 and is not a conversion as envisioned under the circular; (6) accordingly, a cost comparison under that circular is not required; (7) likewise, the planned action is not a change in the performance from civilian personnel to contractor employees of the kind subject to the requirements of 10 U.S.C. 2461; (8) accordingly, the Air Force was not required to perform the cost study and provide congressional notification under that provision; and (9) at the same time, the Air Force's business case analysis supports the cost-effectiveness of the proposed action, with the reduction of a significant number of personnel.