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Department of Defense Contractor and Troop Levels in Iraq and Afghanistan: 2007-2014 [July 22, 2015]
From the Document: "This report provides background information for Congress on troop and contractor levels in the Department of Defense (DOD) in support of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Peters, Heidi M.; Schwartz, Moshe; Kapp, Lawrence
2015-07-22
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Department of Defense Contractor and Troop Levels in Iraq and Afghanistan: 2007-2015 [December 1, 2015]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information for Congress on the levels of Department of Defense (DOD) troop and contractor personnel deployed in support of prior and ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Peters, Heidi M.; Schwartz, Moshe; Kapp, Lawrence
2015-12-01
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Using Data to Improve Defense Acquisitions: Background, Analysis, and Questions for Congress [January 5, 2016]
"In FY2014, the Department of Defense (DOD) obligated more than $280 billion for federal contracts, more than all other federal agencies combined. DOD's obligations were equal to 8% of federal spending. Many analysts and government officials have argued that by more effectively using data to support acquisition decision-making, DOD could save billions of dollars, allocate resources more efficiently and effectively, and improve the effectiveness of military operations. Some have argued that better use of data may be one of the keys to reforming defense acquisitions. In a letter to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, the National Defense Industrial Association listed data as the first critical step toward improving defense acquisitions. In recent years Congress has pursued a variety of approaches to improving DOD's efficiency, such as requiring the department to be auditable, including provisions on acquisition reform in National Defense Authorization Acts, and holding numerous hearings on agency operations and acquisition reform. To the extent that improved data analysis could enable more effective decision-making, Congress may choose to enhance oversight in this area and explore ways to enable DOD to conduct more effective data analysis. This report examines (1) the extent to which DOD effectively uses data to inform decision-making, (2) some of the critical elements needed for DOD to use data more effectively, (3) recent efforts to improve DOD's use of data, and (4) potential questions for Congress. This report focuses primarily (but not exclusively) on defense acquisitions as a case study examining how effectively DOD uses data to support its decision-making."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwartz, Moshe
2016-01-05
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GAO Bid Protests: An Overview of Time Frames and Procedures [January 19, 2016]
From the Summary: "For purposes of federal law, a 'bid protest' involves a written objection to the conduct of government agencies in acquiring supplies and services for their direct use or benefit. Such conduct can include (1) soliciting or otherwise requesting offers; (2) cancelling such solicitations or requests; (3) awarding or proposing to award a contract; (4) terminating or cancelling a contract due to improprieties involving its award; or (5) converting functions performed by government employees to private sector performance. Bid protests are of perennial interest to Congress, in part, because of the effects of protests on agency missions and operations. Congressional interest can also be prompted by notable protests, as well as by agency determinations not to follow any nonbinding recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in deciding protests."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Manuel, Kate; Schwartz, Moshe
2016-01-19
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Acquisition Reform in the House and Senate Versions of the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act [July 13, 2016]
From the Introduction: "This report focuses on the sections of the House and Senate versions of the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 4909 and S. 2943, respectively) that appear closely linked to the respective armed services committees' stated efforts to reform the acquisition system. For purposes of this analysis, Congressional Research Service selected 31 sections of the House bill and 67 sections of the Senate bill. Each section is identified as fitting into one or more of the following six overarching categories: 1. Gathering information for future action, 2. Streamlining the current process (focusing on schedule and minimizing bureaucratic effort), 3. Improving the effectiveness of the current process (focusing on cost, performance, and public policy), 4. Improving the performance of the workforce (through recruitment/retention, professional development, or empowering decision-making), 5. Improving the use of data in decision-making, or 6. Reorganizing the acquisition management structure within the Department of Defense."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwartz, Moshe
2016-07-13
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Department of Defense Contractor and Troop Levels in Iraq and Afghanistan: 2007-2016 [August 15, 2016]
From the Document: "This report provides background information for Congress on the levels of Department of Defense (DOD) troop and contractor personnel deployed in support of prior and ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. For more information on DOD's use of contractor personnel to support military operations, see CRS Report R43074, 'Department of Defense's Use of Contractors to Support Military Operations: Background, Analysis, and Issues for Congress,' by Moshe Schwartz."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Peters, Heidi M.; Schwartz, Moshe; Kapp, Lawrence
2016-08-15
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Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce: Background, Analysis, and Questions for Congress [July 29, 2016]
"Congress and the executive branch have long been frustrated with waste, mismanagement, and fraud in defense acquisitions and have spent significant resources seeking to reform and improve the process. Efforts to address wasteful spending, cost overruns, schedule slips, and performance shortfalls have continued unabated, with more than 150 major studies on acquisition reform since the end of World War II. Many of the most influential of these reports have articulated improving the acquisition workforce as the key to acquisition reform. In recent years, Congress and the Department of Defense (DOD) have sought to increase the size and improve the capability of this workforce. The acquisition workforce is generally defined as uniformed and civilian government personnel, who are responsible for identifying, developing, buying, and managing goods and services to support the military. […] This report provides background on the Department of Defense (DOD) acquisition workforce. Specifically, the report addresses the following questions: (1)What is the acquisition workforce?; (2) What is the current size of the acquisition workforce?; (3) How has Congress sought to improve the acquisition workforce in the past?; and (4) What are some potential questions for Congress to explore in the area of acquisition workforce management to improve acquisitions?"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwartz, Moshe; Francis, Kathryn A.; O'Connor, Charles V.
2016-07-29
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Defense Acquisitions: How and Where DOD Spends Its Contracting Dollars [April 30, 2015]
"The Department of Defense (DOD) has long relied on contractors to provide the U.S. military with a wide range of goods and services, including weapons, food, uniforms, and operational support. Without contractor support, the United States would be currently unable to arm and field an effective fighting force. Understanding costs and trends associated with contractor support could provide Congress more information upon which to make budget decisions and weigh the relative costs and benefits of different military operations--including contingency operations and maintaining bases around the world. Obligations occur when agencies enter into contracts, employ personnel, or otherwise commit to spending money. The federal government tracks money obligated on federal contracts through a database called the Federal Procurement Data System-Next Generation (FPDS). There is no public database that tracks DOD contract outlays (money spent) as comprehensively as obligations. […] GSA [General Services Admission] is undertaking a multi-year effort to improve the reliability and usefulness of the information contained in FPDS and other federal government information systems. This effort, if successful, could significantly improve DOD's ability to engage in evidence- and data-based decision-making. This report examines (1) how much money DOD obligates on contracts, (2) what DOD is buying, and (3) where that money is being spent. This report also examines the extent to which these data are sufficiently reliable to use as a factor when developing policy or analyzing government operations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwartz, Moshe; Ginsberg, Wendy R.; Sargent, John F.
2015-04-30
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Department of Defense Contractor and Troop Levels in Iraq and Afghanistan: 2007-2017 [April 28, 2017]
From the Document: "This report provides background information for Congress on the levels of Department of Defense (DOD) troop and contractor personnel deployed in support of prior and ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. [...] Throughout its history, DOD has relied on contractors to support a wide range of military operations. Operations over the past 30 years have highlighted the critical role that contractors play in supporting U.S. troops-both in terms of the number of contractors and the type of work being performed. During recent U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, contractors frequently averaged 50% or more of the total DOD presence in-country."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Peters, Heidi M.; Schwartz, Moshe; Kapp, Lawrence
2017-04-28
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Nunn-McCurdy Act: Background, Analysis, and Issues for Congress [March 3, 2015]
"The Nunn-McCurdy Act […] requires DOD to report to Congress whenever a Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) experiences cost overruns that exceed certain thresholds. A program whose cost growth exceeds the statutory thresholds is said to have a Nunn- McCurdy breach. There are two types of breaches: significant breaches and critical breaches. A 'significant' breach is when the Program Acquisition Unit Cost (the total cost of development, procurement, and construction divided by the number of units procured) or the Procurement Unit Cost (the total procurement cost divided by the number of units to be procured) increases 15% or more over the current baseline estimate or 30% or more over the original baseline estimate. A 'critical' breach occurs when the program acquisition or the procurement unit cost increases 25% or more over the current baseline estimate or 50% or more over the original baseline estimate. The Nunn-McCurdy Act has been statutorily amended a number of times over the years. One of the most significant changes to the reporting requirements occurred in the FY [Fiscal Year] 2006 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 109-163), when Congress added the original baseline estimate as a threshold against which to measure cost growth. The new standard prevents DOD from avoiding a Nunn-McCurdy breach by simply re-baselining a program. Since 2007, subsequent to the original baseline threshold being introduced, there have been 12 significant and 22 critical breaches."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwartz, Moshe
2015-03-03
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Nunn-McCurdy Act: Background, Analysis, and Issues for Congress [June 21, 2010]
"On September 8, 1982, President Ronald Reagan signed into law the Department of Defense (DOD) Authorization Act, 1983 (P.L. 97-252), which included what has come to be known as the Nunn-McCurdy Act (10 U.S.C. § 2433). The Nunn-McCurdy Act requires DOD to report to Congress whenever a major defense acquisition program experiences cost overruns that exceed certain thresholds. The purpose of the act was to help control cost growth in major defense systems by holding the appropriate Pentagon officials and defense contractors publicly accountable and responsible for managing costs. A program that experiences cost growth exceeding any of the established thresholds is said to have a Nunn-McCurdy breach. There are two types of breaches: significant breaches and critical breaches. A 'significant' breach is when the Program Acquisition Unit Cost (the total cost of development, procurement, and construction divided by the number of units procured) or the Procurement Unit Cost (the total procurement cost divided by the number of units to be procured) increases 15% or more over the current baseline estimate or 30% or more over the original baseline estimate. A 'critical' breach occurs when the program acquisition or the procurement unit cost increases 25% or more over the current baseline estimate or 50% or more over the original baseline estimate."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwartz, Moshe
2010-06-21
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Multiyear Procurement (MYP) and Block Buy Contracting in Defense Acquisition: Background and Issues for Congress [November 6, 2015]
From the introduction: "This report provides background information and issues for Congress on multiyear procurement (MYP) and block buy contracting (BBC), which are special contracting mechanisms that Congress permits the Department of Defense ( DOD) to use for a limited number of defense acquisition programs. Compared to the standard or default approach of annual contracting, MYP and BBC have the potential for reducing weapon procurement costs by several percent. Potential issues for Congress concerning MYP and BBC include whether to use MYP and BBC in the future more frequently, less frequently, or about as frequently as they are currently used; and whether to create a permanent statute to govern the use of BBC, analogous to the permanent statute (10 U.S.C. 2306b) that governs the use of MYP. Congress's decisions on these issues could affect defense acquisition practices, defense funding requirements, and the defense industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald; Schwartz, Moshe
2015-11-06
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Multiyear Procurement (MYP) and Block Buy Contracting in Defense Acquisition: Background and Issues for Congress [June 12, 2015]
From the introduction: "This report provides background information and issues for Congress on multiyear procurement (MYP) and block buy contracting (BBC), which are special contracting mechanisms that Congress permits the Department of Defense ( DOD) to use for a limited number of defense acquisition programs. Compared to the standard or default approach of annual contracting, MYP and BBC have the potential for reducing weapon procurement costs by several percent. Potential issues for Congress concerning MYP and BBC include whether to use MYP and BBC in the future more frequently, less frequently, or about as frequently as they are currently used; and whether to create a permanent statute to govern the use of BBC, analogous to the permanent statute (10 U.S.C. 2306b) that governs the use of MYP. Congress's decisions on these issues could affect defense acquisition practices, defense funding requirements, and the defense industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald; Schwartz, Moshe
2015-06-12
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Multiyear Procurement (MYP) and Block Buy Contracting in Defense Acquisition: Background and Issues for Congress [March 23, 2016]
From the Introduction: "This report provides background information and issues for Congress on multiyear procurement (MYP) and block buy contracting (BBC), which are special contracting mechanisms that Congress permits the Department of Defense (DOD) to use for a limited number of defense acquisition programs. Compared to the standard or default approach of annual contracting, MYP and BBC have the potential for reducing weapon procurement costs by several percent. Potential issues for Congress concerning MYP and BBC include whether to use MYP and BBC in the future more frequently, less frequently, or about as frequently as they are currently used; and whether to create a permanent statute to govern the use of BBC, analogous to the permanent statute (10 U.S.C. 2306b) that governs the use of MYP. Congress's decisions on these issues could affect defense acquisition practices, defense funding requirements, and the defense industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald; Schwartz, Moshe
2016-03-23
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Multiyear Procurement (MYP) and Block Buy Contracting in Defense Acquisition: Background and Issues for Congress [August 6, 2013]
"Multiyear procurement (MYP) and block buy contracting (BBC) are special contracting mechanisms that Congress permits the Department of Defense (DOD) to use for a limited number of defense acquisition programs. Compared to the standard or default approach of annual contracting, MYP and BBC have the potential for reducing weapon procurement costs by several percent. Under annual contracting, DOD uses one or more contracts for each year's worth of procurement of a given kind of item. Under MYP, DOD instead uses a single contract for two to five years' worth of procurement of a given kind of item without having to exercise a contract option for each year after the first year. DOD needs congressional approval for each use of MYP. There is a permanent statute governing MYP contracting--10 U.S.C. 2306b. Under this statute, a program must meet several criteria to qualify for MYP. [...] Potential issues for Congress concerning MYP and BBC include whether to use MYP and BBC in the future more frequently, less frequently, or about as frequently as they are currently used, and whether to create a permanent statute to govern the use of BBC, analogous to the permanent statute that governs the use of MYP."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwartz, Moshe; O'Rourke, Ronald
2013-08-06
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Multiyear Procurement (MYP) and Block Buy Contracting in Defense Acquisition: Background and Issues for Congress [April 25, 2013]
"This report provides background information and issues for Congress on multiyear procurement (MYP) and block buy contracting (BBC), which are special contracting mechanisms that Congress permits the Department of Defense (DOD) to use for a limited number of defense acquisition programs. Compared to the standard or default approach of annual contracting, MYP and BBC have the potential for reducing weapon procurement costs by several percent. Potential issues for Congress concerning MYP and BBC include whether to use MYP and BBC in the future more frequently, less frequently, or about as frequently as they are currently used, and whether to create a permanent statute to govern the use of BBC, analogous to the permanent statute (10 U.S.C. 2306b) that governs the use of MYP. Congress's decisions on these issues could affect defense acquisition practices, defense funding requirements, and the defense industrial base."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald; Schwartz, Moshe
2013-04-25
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Department of Defense's Use of Private Security Contractors in Afghanistan and Iraq: Background, Analysis, and Options for Congress [February 21, 2011]
From the Document: "The United States relies on contractors to provide a wide variety of services in Afghanistan and Iraq, including armed security. While DOD [Department of Defense] has previously contracted for security in Bosnia and elsewhere, it appears that in Afghanistan and Iraq DOD is for the first time relying so heavily on armed contractors to provide security during combat or stability operations. Much of the attention given to private security contractors (PSCs) by Congress and the media is a result of numerous high-profile incidents in which security contractors have been accused of shooting civilians, using excessive force, being insensitive to local customs or beliefs, or otherwise behaving inappropriately. Some analysts believe that the use of contractors, particularly private security contractors, may have undermined U.S. counterinsurgency efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. As of December 31, 2010, there were more than 27,000 private security contractor personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq, representing 17% of DOD's total contractor workforce in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since December 2009, the number of PSC personnel in Afghanistan has exceeded the number in Iraq. [...] This report examines current PSC trends in Afghanistan and Iraq, steps DOD has taken to improve oversight and management, and the impact using private security personnel can have on military operations. It also reviews steps Congress has taken to exercise oversight over the use of PSCs and includes options for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwartz, Moshe
2011-02-21
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Department of Defense Contractors in Afghanistan and Iraq: Background and Analysis [March 29. 2011]
From the Document: "The critical role contractors play in supporting military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq necessitates that the Department of Defense (DOD) effectively manage contractors during contingency operations. Lack of sufficient contract management can delay or even prevent troops from receiving needed support and can also result in wasteful spending. Some analysts believe that poor contract management has played a role in permitting abuses and crimes committed by certain contractors against local nationals, which may have undermined U.S. counterinsurgency efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. DOD relies extensively upon contractors to support overseas contingency operations. As of December 2010, DOD had more contractor personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq (159,000) than uniformed personnel (144,000). Contractors made up 52% of DOD's workforce in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since December 2009, the number of DOD contractors in Afghanistan has exceeded the number in Iraq. According to DOD, in Afghanistan, as of December 2010, there were 87,483 DOD contractor personnel, compared to approximately 96,900 uniformed personnel. Contractors made up 47% of DOD's workforce in Afghanistan at that time. This compares to December 2008, when contractors represented 69% of DOD's workforce in Afghanistan. According to DOD data, the recent surge of uniformed personnel in Afghanistan and the increase in contract obligations did not result in a corresponding increase in contractor personnel."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwartz, Moshe; Swain, Joyprada
2011-03-29
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Department of Defense Trends in Overseas Contract Obligations [May 16, 2011]
"The Department of Defense (DOD) has long relied on contractors to support military operations. Contractors provide the U.S. military with weapons, food, uniforms, and logistic services, and without contractor support, the U.S. would currently be unable to arm and field an effective fighting force. DOD spends more on federal contracts than all other federal agencies combined. Understanding the costs associated with contractor support of overseas military operations could provide Congress more data upon which to weigh the relative costs and benefits of different military operations, including contingency operations and maintaining bases around the world. The federal government tracks contract obligations through the Federal Procurement Data System-Next Generation. Obligations occur when agencies enter into contracts, employ personnel, or otherwise legally commit to spending money. Outlays occur when obligations are liquidated. This report examines (1) DOD's overseas contract obligations in the larger context of U.S. government and DOD contract spending, and (2) how those contract obligations are used to support DOD operations in different regions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwartz, Moshe; Swain, Joyprada
2011-05-16
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Department of Defense Contractors in Afghanistan and Iraq: Background and Analysis [May 5, 2011]
From the Document: "The critical role contractors play in supporting military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq necessitates that the Department of Defense (DOD) effectively manage contractors during contingency operations. Lack of sufficient contract management can delay or even prevent troops from receiving needed support and can also result in wasteful spending. Some analysts believe that poor contract management has played a role in permitting abuses and crimes committed by certain contractors against local nationals, which may have undermined U.S. counterinsurgency efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. DOD relies extensively upon contractors to support overseas contingency operations. As of March 2011, DOD had more contractor personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq (155,000) than uniformed personnel (145,000). Contractors made up 52% of DOD's workforce in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since December 2009, the number of DOD contractors in Afghanistan has exceeded the number in Iraq. [...] This report provides a detailed analysis of contractor personnel trends and contracting dollars obligated in U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Afghanistan, and Iraq."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwartz, Moshe; Swain, Joyprada
2011-05-13
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Department of Defense's Use of Private Security Contractors in Afghanistan and Iraq: Background, Analysis, and Options for Congress [May 13, 2011]
From the Document: "The United States relies on contractors to provide a wide variety of services in Afghanistan and Iraq, including armed security. While DOD [Department of Defense] has previously contracted for security in Bosnia and elsewhere, it appears that in Afghanistan and Iraq DOD is for the first time relying so heavily on armed contractors to provide security during combat or stability operations. Much of the attention given to private security contractors (PSCs) by Congress and the media is a result of numerous high-profile incidents in which security contractors have been accused of shooting civilians, using excessive force, being insensitive to local customs or beliefs, or otherwise behaving inappropriately. Some analysts believe that the use of contractors, particularly private security contractors, may have undermined U.S. counterinsurgency efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. [...] This report examines current PSC trends in Afghanistan and Iraq, steps DOD has taken to improve oversight and management, and the impact using private security personnel can have on military operations. It also reviews steps Congress has taken to exercise oversight over the use of PSCs and includes options for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwartz, Moshe
2011-05-13
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Department of Defense's Use of Private Security Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan: Background, Analysis, and Options for Congress [June 22, 2010]
"This report examines current private security contractor trends in Iraq and Afghanistan, steps DOD has taken to improve oversight and management, and the extent to which DOD has incorporated the role of security contractors into its doctrine and strategy. It also reviews steps Congress has taken to exercise oversight over the use of PSCs [Private Security Contractors ] and includes options for Congress." More specifically, "while DOD has previously contracted for security in Bosnia and elsewhere, it appears that in Iraq and Afghanistan DOD is for the first time relying so heavily on armed contractors to provide security during combat or stability operations. [...]. Many analysts and government officials believe that DOD would be unable to execute its mission without PSCs. The use of armed contractors has raised a number of issues for Congress, including concerns over transparency and accountability. Much of the attention given to PSCs by Congress and the media is a result of numerous high-profile incidents where security contractors were accused of shooting civilians, using excessive force, being insensitive to local customs or beliefs, or otherwise behaving inappropriately. These actions may have undermined U.S. counterinsurgency efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. [...]. DOD has taken steps to improve how it manages and oversees such contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. These steps include tracking contracting data, coordinating the movements of PSCs throughout the battle space, issuing new policy on managing PSCs, and updating DOD doctrine to incorporate the role of contractors. However, these efforts are still in progress and could take three years or more to effectively implement."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwartz, Moshe
2010-06-22
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Department of Defense Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan: Background and Analysis [July 2, 2010]
"The Department of Defense (DOD) increasingly relies upon contractors to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, which has resulted in a DOD workforce in those countries comprising approximately an equal number of contractors (194,000) as uniformed personnel (190,000). The critical role contractors play in supporting such military operations and the billions of dollars spent by DOD on these services requires operational forces to effectively manage contractors during contingency operations. Lack of sufficient contract management can delay or even prevent troops from receiving needed support and can also result in wasteful spending. Some analysts believe that poor contract management has also played a role in abuses and crimes committed by certain contractors against local nationals, which may have undermined U.S. counterinsurgency efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. [...]. The use of contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan has raised a number of issues for Congress, including (1) whether DOD is gathering and analyzing the right data on the use of contractors, (2) what steps DOD is taking to improve contract management and oversight, and (3) the extent to which contractors are included in military doctrine and strategy. This report examines current contractor trends in Iraq and Afghanistan, steps DOD has taken to improve contractor oversight and management, and the extent to which DOD has incorporated the role of contractors into its doctrine and strategy. It also reviews steps Congress has taken to exercise oversight over DOD contracting, including contracting issues that have been the focus of hearings and legislation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwartz, Moshe
2010-07-02
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Department of Defense Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan: Background and Analysis [September 21, 2009]
"The Department of Defense (DOD) increasingly relies upon contractors to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, which has resulted in a DOD workforce in those countries comprising approximately an equal number of contractors (194,000) as uniformed personnel (190,000). The critical role contractors play in supporting such military operations and the billions of dollars spent by DOD on these services requires operational forces to effectively manage contractors during contingency operations. Lack of sufficient contract management can delay or even prevent troops from receiving needed support and can also result in wasteful spending. Some analysts believe that poor contract management has also played a role in abuses and crimes committed by certain contractors against local nationals, which may have undermined U.S. counterinsurgency efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.[…]. The use of contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan has raised a number of issues for Congress, including (1) whether DOD is gathering and analyzing the right data on the use of contractors, (2) what steps DOD is taking to improve contract management and oversight, and (3) the extent to which contractors are included in military doctrine and strategy. This report examines current contractor trends in Iraq and Afghanistan, steps DOD has taken to improve contractor oversight and management, and the extent to which DOD has incorporated the role of contractors into its doctrine and strategy. It also reviews steps Congress has taken to exercise oversight over DOD contracting, including contracting issues that have been the focus of hearings and legislation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwartz, Moshe
2009-09-21
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Department of Defense Energy Initiatives: Background and Issues for Congress [July 20, 2012]
"The Department of Defense (DOD) spends billions of dollars per year on fuel, and is pursuing numerous initiatives for reducing its fuel needs and changing the mix of energy sources that it uses. DOD's energy initiatives pose several potential oversight issues for Congress, and have been topics of discussion and debate at hearings on DOD's proposed FY2013 budget. By some accounts, DOD is the largest organizational user of petroleum in the world. Even so, DOD's share of total U.S. energy consumption is fairly small. DOD is by far the largest U.S. government user of energy. The amount of money that DOD spends on petroleum-based fuels is large in absolute terms, but relatively small as a percentage of DOD's overall budget. DOD's fuel costs have increased substantially over the last decade, to about $17 billion in FY2011. Petroleum-based liquid fuels are by far DOD's largest source of energy, accounting for approximately two-thirds of DOD energy consumption. When DOD's fuel use is divided by service, the Air Force is the largest user; when divided by platform type, aircraft are the largest user. […] Congress has been concerned with energy policy since the 1970s, and has passed legislation relating to federal government energy use, including DOD installation energy use. Congress has set specific energy-reduction targets for DOD installation energy, but not for operational energy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwartz, Moshe; Blakeley, Katherine; O'Rourke, Ronald
2012-07-20
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Department of Defense Trends in Overseas Contract Obligations [July 22, 2011]
From the Document: "The Department of Defense (DOD) has long relied on contractors to support military operations. Contractors provide the U.S. military with weapons, food, uniforms, and logistic services, and without contractor support, the U.S. would currently be unable to arm and field an effective fighting force. DOD spends more on federal contracts than all other federal agencies combined. Understanding the costs associated with contractor support of overseas military operations could provide Congress more data upon which to weigh the relative costs and benefits of different military operations, including contingency operations and maintaining bases around the world. The federal government tracks contract obligations through the Federal Procurement Data System. Obligations occur when agencies enter into contracts, employ personnel, or otherwise commit to spending money. This report examines DOD overseas contract obligations within the context of U.S. government and DOD contract spending. […] Concerns have been raised over the reliability of data contained in the FPDS-NG [Federal Procurement Data System-Next Generation] database. There are also specific data reliability concerns regarding contracts listed as having been performed overseas. These concerns bring into question the extent to which the data can or should be relied upon to conduct policy analysis or make policy decisions. DOD is now aware of concerns relating to overseas contract obligations and is working to correct the data."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwartz, Moshe; Ginsberg, Wendy R.; Alexander, Daniel
2011-07-22
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Department of Defense Fuel Costs in Iraq [July 23, 2008]
"Since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the average price of fuels purchased for military operations in Iraq has steadily increased. The disparity between the higher price of fuel supplied to the United States Central Command compared to Iraq's civilian population has been a point of contention. Several factors contribute to the disparity, including the different types of fuel used by the military compared to Iraqi civilians, the Iraqi government's price subsidies, and the level pricing that the DOD's Defense Logistics Agency charges for military customers around the world. The Iraqi government has been pressured to reduce its fuel subsidy and black market fuel prices remain higher than the official subsidized price."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Andrews, Anthony; Schwartz, Moshe
2008-07-23
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Department of Defense Energy Initiatives: Background and Issues for Congress [August 10, 2012]
"The Department of Defense (DOD) spends billions of dollars per year on fuel, and is pursuing numerous initiatives for reducing its fuel needs and changing the mix of energy sources that it uses. DOD's energy initiatives pose several potential oversight issues for Congress, and have been topics of discussion and debate at hearings on DOD's proposed FY2013 budget. By some accounts, DOD is the largest organizational user of petroleum in the world. Even so, DOD's share of total U.S. energy consumption is fairly small. DOD is by far the largest U.S. government user of energy. The amount of money that DOD spends on petroleum-based fuels is large in absolute terms, but relatively small as a percentage of DOD's overall budget. DOD's fuel costs have increased substantially over the last decade, to about $17 billion in FY2011. Petroleum-based liquid fuels are by far DOD's largest source of energy, accounting for approximately two-thirds of DOD energy consumption. When DOD's fuel use is divided by service, the Air Force is the largest user; when divided by platform type, aircraft are the largest user. […] As part of its FY2013 budget submission, DOD has requested more than $1.4 billion for operational energy initiatives in FY2013. DOD's office of Operational Energy Plans and Programs, headed by the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Operational Energy Plans and Programs (ASD (OEPP)), is responsible for developing DOD policy for operational energy and alternative fuels, and for coordinating operational energy efforts across the services. Congress has been concerned with energy policy since the 1970s, and has passed legislation relating to federal government energy use, including DOD installation energy use. Congress has set specific energy-reduction targets for DOD installation energy, but not for operational energy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwartz, Moshe; Blakeley, Katherine; O'Rourke, Ronald
2012-08-10
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Department of Defense Energy Initiatives: Background and Issues for Congress [December 10, 2012]
"This report provides background information and identifies issues for Congress on Department of Defense (DOD) energy initiatives. DOD spends billions of dollars per year on fuel, and is pursuing numerous initiatives for reducing its fuel needs and changing the mix of energy sources that it uses. DOD's energy initiatives pose several potential policy and oversight issues for Congress, and have been topics of discussion and debate at hearings on DOD's proposed FY2013 budget. Congress' decisions on DOD energy initiatives could substantially affect DOD capabilities, funding requirements, and U.S. energy industries. This report supplements earlier CRS [Congressional Research Service] reports on DOD fuel use and conservation. Another CRS report discusses DOD's facilities energy conservation policies. This report focuses primarily on DOD's use of liquid fuels. It does not discuss in detail DOD's use of other energy, such as natural gas or electrical power, or the use of nuclear power by some Navy ships."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwartz, Moshe; Blakeley, Katherine; O'Rourke, Ronald
2012-12-10
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Defense Acquisitions: How DOD Acquires Weapon Systems and Recent Efforts to Reform the Process [January 2, 2013]
"The Department of Defense (DOD) acquires goods and services from contractors, federal arsenals, and shipyards to support military operations.'Acquisition' is a broad term that applies to more than just the purchase of an item or service; the acquisition process encompasses the design, engineering, construction, testing, deployment, sustainment, and disposal of weapons or related items purchased from a contractor. […] One of DOD's main efforts to improve acquisitions is the better buying power initiative. In 2010, DOD issued a memorandum 'Better Buying Power: Guidance for Obtaining Greater Efficiency and Productivity in Defense Spending'. In November 2012, DOD launched the 'Better Buying Power 2.0' initiative, an update to the original effort. The update included some modifications of the original memorandum. For example, the original effort called for increased use of fixed-price contracts; the new version emphasizes the use of an appropriate contract type, depending on the circumstances. Perhaps the most significant change is the added emphasis on improving and professionalizing the acquisition workforce."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwartz, Moshe
2013-01-02
