Operational Contract Support

The continual introduction of hi-tech equipment, coupled with force structure and manning reductions, and high operating tempo mean that military forces will often be significantly augmented with contracted support. To do this, contract support integration and contractor management must be integrated into military planning and operations. This is a complex and very challenging process. Contract support is delivered to the joint force through a process comprised of five key tasks: planning; requirements determination;, contract development; contract execution; and contract closeout. The product of planning is a contract support integration plan that defines key contract support integration capabilities to include command and control (C2) relationships, boards and centers requirements, theater business clearance policies, etc. necessary to execute subordinate joint force commander (JFC) contract support integration requirements. Identifying, synchronizing, and prioritizing requirements are essential precursors to effective contract development, and essential to ensuring the subordinate JFC receives commercial support at the right place, at the right time, for the right price. The requirements process ends with a determination that the requirement is valid and of sufficient priority and that the requirement can only be met by commercial means. Contract development begins with the establishment of the proper contract venue as determined by the subordinate JFC and ends with contract award. Contract execution begins with the award of the contract by a warranted contracting officer and ends when contractor performance is complete or the contract is otherwise terminated by the contracting officer. Contract closeout is executed once the contract has been completed and all outstanding contract administration issues have been resolved and ends once the contracting officer has prepared a contract completion statement.