An analysis of the U.S. Department of Defense contracting and logistics support during the first 100 hours of the 2010 Haitian disaster response operation

Abstract

The devastation caused by the recent earthquake in Haiti dramatically impaired the capabilities of all rapid response efforts. The resulting extreme conditions made it difficult to transport and deliver equipment, materials, supplies, and services to the earthquake victims and the first responders. The objective of this research is to analyze the effectiveness of the contracting and logistics support provided by the Department of Defense (DoD) through its collaborative disaster response effort-Operation Unified Response (OUR). This analysis reviews the initial response time, coordination of efforts, adequacy of support, contract administration and oversight processes, and logistics management of OUR within the first 100 hours of the disaster. Further, this analysis examines how the planners and coordinators of OUR used contracting and logistics to overcome the devastation that challenged their abilities to provide prompt relief to those in Haiti. The research team studied recent DoD disaster response operations to help determine the how effective were DoD's actions in the first 100 hours of the Haitian relief effort. The researchers recommend further research to analyze the cost savings associated with early integration of Contingency Contracting Officers (CCO) and Disaster Response Logisticians into the planning phases and life cycle of contingency operations, and they conclude that the time for DoD to improve its response practices is, NOW!