The role of the Navy Administrative Contracting Officer in implementing the subcontacting [i.e. subcontracting] provisions of Public Laws 99-661 and 100-180

Abstract

Public Law 99-661 established a five percent goal for all Department of Defense (DOD) contracts to be awarded to small disadvantaged businesses (SDB's) . Public Law 100-180 extended this goal to include large subcontracts under DOD prime contracts. This study was undertaken to assess the role of Navy Administrative Contracting Officers (ACO's) in implementing these laws. The results of this study indicate: Senior personnel throughout DOD have not fully understood the strong Congressional support this program enjoys. The five percent goal for subcontracting with SDB's is seen as unrealistic by ACO's. The sole source nature of much of the work performed at the activities evaluated limits the actions available to an ACO. There was no statistically significant increase in the level of subcontracting with SDB's between Fiscal Years 1987 and 1988 or between those activities that evaluate ACO's in this area and those that don't.