ANALYSIS OF NGB ENTERPRISE CONTRACT MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to conduct an individual competency assessment of the Army National Guard's contract management knowledge and evaluate the individual competencies of the Army National Guard's contract officers and contract specialists (1102s). This research evaluates individual competencies throughout all phases of the contract life cycle. In addition to the assessment of individual competencies, this research will also evaluate the individual competencies of the buyer (government) and seller (industry). The National Contract Management Association's (NCMA) Contract Management Body of Knowledge (CMBOK) Contract Management Standard (CMS) and the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) are the evaluation criteria for individual competencies. This research analyzes which life cycle phases are more and less proficient from both a buyer's and seller's perspective. The U.S. Army NGB contracting workforce rates between "Intermediate" and "Advanced" as it rates low in Pre Award and high in Award and Post Award in regards to their proficiency in the CMS buyer competencies. The U.S. Army NGB contracting workforce rates with the "Basic" level of knowledge of CMS seller competency. In order to improve to "Intermediate" knowledge of these competencies, the contracting workforce will have to understand seller competencies in difficult situations with little to no guidance.