The Vital Service of Federal Contractors

The past several months have seen increasing public scrutiny of federal government contractors. The concerns raised by Congress and highlighted in the news media include organizational conflicts of interest, inappropriate outsourcing and excess profits.

As the chief executive of a prominent mid-size federal contractor, I am troubled by these questions. First, the actions of a few individuals have unfairly tarnished the reputation of a responsible, patriotic federal contractor workforce.

More important, these accusations ignore a fundamental truth: Federal contractors provide vital, irreplaceable services to our country. From developing next-generation satellite communications networks and supporting military operations to processing immigrant visa applications and screening incoming cargo for biological and nuclear threats, federal contractors work at every level of our government.

Federal contractors also fill an expanding void in the supply of qualified, experienced, technical personnel. As the baby-boom generation nears retirement, there are fewer employees on the federal payroll. This accelerating shortage is particularly acute in specialty areas such as information technology support and procurement. The bottom line: The labor market cannot supply enough government employees today, and this situation will only grow worse. This makes qualified government contractors all the more critical to the successful operation of our government.

I am likewise troubled by the perception that companies in our sector perform less-than-excellent work for large profits. The truth is we are driven by market dynamics and a basic marketing reality: If we do not offer the best service at an affordable price to taxpayers, we won't win business. The award of federal contracts is typically an extremely competitive, carefully vetted and highly regulated process, where the profits are modest given the extent of the work. This competitive environment is every citizen's best assurance that there are no "excess profits." As a result, we achieve the maximum value on investments for our federal customer and ultimately the taxpayer.

The value of federal contractors has been proven over and over, often in ways that are obscured from public view.

For example, my firm is involved in a coordinated effort with the departments of Energy and Homeland Security and other contractors to deploy systems to prevent nuclear and radiological materials from leaving international seaports, airports and border crossings and reaching the shores of the United States. We provide outsourced human resource support for the U.S. Army so its personnel can focus on higher-priority assignments, increasing its overall operational efficiency. Through the hard work of our employees -- and the hard work of other federal contractors like us -- we have helped our customers become faster, smarter and more efficient, while saving the federal government -- and taxpayers -- vital federal dollars.

This is not to say that contractors are right for everything. Some roles and decisions are inherently governmental. Those positions and duties should be executed by government employees. However, the vast majority of needs can be supported and well satisfied by the contractor base.

It is true at my company -- as well many other federal contractors -- that we employ former federal civilian and military personnel. I have served on active duty as a surface warfare officer for the U.S. Navy and as a naval reservist for three decades. Numerous firms in our sector boast rosters that are made up of more than 50 percent veterans and other retired government employees who performed work in support of the intelligence community, the Defense Department and civilian agencies. Working in the private sector allows us to invest in and apply our skills while maintaining a connection to the government and a higher sense of purpose.

In short, many of us come to work for one reason: We know we make a difference every day in the security of our country, preserving its future for our children, and maintaining and improving the quality of life for every American. I interact with people doing this work every day. Their patriotism is real. It's personal.

Brad Antle is president and chief executive of SI International, a Reston-based provider of IT and network solutions to the federal government.