Department of Defense Food service Program Needs Contracting and Management Improvements.
Abstract
It is the policy of the Department of Defense (DOD) to provide the highest quality and most cost effective food service to military personnel. This report discusses management of the DOD Food Service Program and especially management of food service contracts. To feed enlisted personnel, the military services operate about 2,400 dining facilities worldwide. About 750,000 enlisted personnel are authorized to eat free in the dining facilities, and another 980,000 personnel, who receive a separate monetary food allowance, can pay cash to eat in the dining facilities. DOD procures food for dining facilities, but meal preparation, serving, and other aspects of the food program are provided by either inhouse or contractor personnel. Food service in DOD exceeds $1 billion a year. However, except for the cost of the food itself, DOD Food Service Program costs are not segregated and accumulated for management purposes. These costs are funded under various appropriations, such as Military Personnel, Operations and Maintenance, and Military Construction. In fiscal year 1979, the food costs alone were about $700 million. Yet, there are other costs associated with feeding military personnel. For example, in fiscal year 1979, labor, supplies, and materials cost about $360 million--$230 million with the Government and $130 million with contractors. Even these costs are by no means all inclusive. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 20, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA106547
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office