Summary: A survey on the feasibility of establishing interagency pools of clerical personnel to help meet the needs of federal agencies for short-term clerical help indicated that it is now time to give the concept a fair test. The need for short-term help appears significant, the demand stable, the concept proven in the private sector and in the State of California, and the potential for success in the federal government good. The Chairman of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), in cooperation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, should clarify whether additional legislation is needed before this concept can be pilot tested and, if needed, propose legislation to authorize a pilot-testing program. The Chairman should then designate a location and an agency to act as the central pool manager and pilot test the concept to further establish demand and feasibility. The Chairman, CSC, should also require: (1) regional offices to more effectively screen applicants for interest and availability; (2) agencies to evaluate the performance of temporary workers and provide CSC with this information; and (3) regional offices to make the performance evaluation information available to other federal agencies.
