Contracting strategy formulation for production competition in major weapon systems acquisition.

Abstract

Production competition has emerged as a major objective in major weapon systems acquisition. The complexity and length of the acquisition process, and the expense involved in major weapon systems requires that early and careful planning be conducted in order to achieve production competition. In this study, the researcher defines and identifies the characteristics and roles of the acquisition strategy, the acquisition plan, functional implementation plans, and the contracting strategy. The concept of production competition and the feasible methodologies for pursuing it are investigated. Contracting strategy formulation is studied in detail and program issues that are consistently encountered in contracting strategy formulation are presented. A methodology for identifying problem issues in contracting strategy formulation is developed and analyzed. The study concludes that the role of the contracting officer and the contracting strategy is not sufficiently recognized nor defined in the critical role of integrating functional requirements and objectives into an integrated acquisition plan.