Year-End Spending: An Analysis of the Contracting Officer's Perspective.
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the perspectives of Air Force Systems Command contracting officers relative to year end spending practices, current policies, and changes needed in order to minimize waste and/or the perception of waste given that year-end spending is not necessarily wasteful. Four research questions were addressed. These were: 1) Do contracting officials agree with the causes of year-end spending identified in previous research and which of these is considered to be the most significant factor?; 2) Do policies which implement earlier (e.g.m third quarter of the fiscal year) deadlines decrease the potential for waste?; 3) Are there other methods or policies which would provide better incentives for managers and contracting officials to minimize the unnecessary use of available government funds?; and 4) Would additional training of Air Force fund managers and contracting officers be beneficial in reducing the possibility of waste, and, if so, what areas should that training cover? In general, most contracting officers did agree with the causes previously identified and considered the need to obligate before expiration of funds as the most significant. Additional causes,including the complexity of the procurement environment, followed closely in the order of importance. Over 50 percent of those responding indicated that current policies do not reduce the potential waste.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA187990
Entities
People
- David J. Goble
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology