Performance Problems in Service Contracting
Abstract
A service contract is defined by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) as: a contract that directly engages the time and effort of a contractor whose primary purpose is to perform an identifiable task rather than furnish an end item of supply. A services contract may be either...nonpersonal or personal. It can cover services performed by either professional or nonprofessional personnel... Thus, the field is diverse and a number of totally different types of contracts can be fairly encompassed under its broad umbrella. Previous contracts have ranged from the procurement of custodial services to securing for an architect's or attorney's professional services, and from planting trees in a National Forest to producing a technical manual for the U.S. Army. Contract types have run the gamut from firm fixed price to various forms of cost plus arrangements, and award has been made both by sealed bidding and competitive negotiation. The same breadth and diversity which makes the field interesting, however, also leads to difficulty in making generalizations or formulating rules which apply across the board. Since the vast majority of litigation has involved firm fixed price contracts for housekeeping services, operation of government facilities, and management services, much of the discussion herein will center on those areas.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA196386
Entities
People
- Alexander W. Purdue Jr
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology