Competing for contractor support services.

Abstract

Over the past few years, heightened management attention to the increased complexity and sophistication of contract requirements and of weapon systems acquisition has intensified the number, frequency, extent and complexity of the studies, analyses, and other documentation required in support of the acquisition process. During this same time period, personnel cuts and staffing constraints have resulted in a decrease in appropriate government in-house expertise. In this environment of increasing requirements and decreasing resources, greater reliance is being placed on industry to provide the expertise the government lacks. Concurrent with this demand for increased use of contractor support services is the federal policy of promoting effective competition for all goods and services. It is the objective of this thesis to assist the contracting officer in understanding the problems inherent with competing for contractor support services and to offer recommendations that improve the contracting process to increase competition for these services.