The ORINCON Contract: a case study of service contracting

Abstract

Contracting for services within the U.S. Government is full of difficult challenges that face the Contracting Officer on a daily basis. Many problems that develop during contract performance can be avoided through proper planning in the initial stages of the contract cycle. This thesis assesses a Marine Corps Technical Services contract performed at the Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity, Camp Pendleton, California. The analysis focuses on various phases of the contract cycle and the problems encountered during the performance of the contract. A brief history of contracting for services within the U.S. Government is presented, the preparation of the service contract Statement of Work is explored, and a background on the Government Agencies involved with the contract is also provided. The conclusions yield that the post-award problems were a direct result of an inefficiently prepared Statement of Work, resulting in a poorly written contract, and an insufficient administering of the contract. Recommendations concerning these issues are then addressed.