A position performing esprit de corps duties should be categorized as which agency source?

A position performing esprit de corps duties is best categorized as a commercial activity exempt source. This designation indicates that the responsibilities associated with esprit de corps—such as enhancing morale, fostering teamwork, and creating a cohesive work environment—are typically not suitable for performance by private contractors.

Esprit de corps functions are integral to maintaining the core values and culture within an agency, which often aligns closely with the mission and vision of public service. Therefore, these activities are considered essential and are shielded from commercialization due to their nature. Commercial activities that are exempt reflect tasks that cannot be effectively outsourced because they require a deep understanding of the organization’s mission and values, which a private entity may not fully grasp.

In contrast, inherently governmental activities are those that involve decision-making about public policy or financial management, while outsourced refers to functions that can be performed by external contractors. Support service positions typically refer to roles that assist in administrative or logistical functions but do not specifically focus on morale and cohesion, which are the primary goals of esprit de corps responsibilities.