Program Oversight of Contractors on the Battlefield

Abstract

The use of contractors in the battlefield is not new. They have been employed throughout history to fulfill combat and combat support functions. However, the magnitude of reliance on contractors has grown leading to a rapid rise of an uncontrolled industry. Reduction in force and defense budgets, out-sourcing, complex technology, and operational tempo has forced the United Stated Government to rely heavily on non-uniformed support to carry out mission objectives in a theater of operations. Contracting has had several problems to include insufficient oversight, transparency and accountability, and ambiguous legal status potentially leading to contract waste, fraud and abuse. To reduce waste, fraud and abuse there are several tools that the federal government can use. This paper will focus on those tools that are not being effectively utilized and provide recommendations for improving contractor performance and accountability, contracting and management systems and practices, as well as, the skills of the acquisition workforce.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 23, 2011
Accession Number
ADA553049

Entities

People

  • Gurdev K. Buttar

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter IED
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Civilian Personnel
  • Congress
  • Contractors
  • Contracts
  • Control Systems
  • Department Of State
  • Employment
  • Financial Management
  • Government Procurement
  • Governments
  • Law
  • Military Operations
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Government Contracting/Procurement.
  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.