Acquisition reform through Alpha Contracting

Abstract

The focus of acquisition reform is to obtain better products for the Department of Defense (DoD) and motivate the actual contracting process of acquiring those produces for defense systems. The motivation comes from acquisition reform. The Alpha Contracting Process is one of several innovative contracting concepts of acquisition reform that has been implemented by several commands. The purpose of this thesis will be to determine the effectiveness of the Alpha Contracting Process. Data gathered from field research interviews, case studies, and survey data are employed to support the effectiveness of Alpha Contracting. Advantages and disadvantages and potential inhibitors to Alpha Contracting are discussed, as well as mechanisms to overcome the inhibitors. This thesis will provide a model of the traditional contracting process versus the alpha contracting process. The thesis concludes that alpha contracting can innovate the contracting process and provides recommendations for future research.