MARINE CORPS ACQUISITION OPTIMIZATION

Abstract

The purpose of this report is to provide a comprehensive analysis on how the United States Marine Corps conducts contracting and acquisition activities. This report further evaluates how those activities, when optimized, can enable the Marine Corps to be ready to fight and win within current and future operating environments. This report begins by dissecting the status quo through the three pillars of acquisitions and contracting. The three pillars are: people, or talent management; processes, the mindset with which acquisition decisions are made; and platforms, the vehicles used in that acquisition. Through these three pillars, this report examines the status quo and identifies its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This study then explores multiple optimization alternatives to the status quo, for each of the three pillars, and discusses their respective merits and deficiencies. Finally, based on the results of the analysis, this report provides comprehensive recommendations that have the potential of optimizing operational contracting support and the capabilities the Marine Corps contingency contracting force can provide commanders at every level.