Download or read book Performance based Acquisitions written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 76 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Federal Acquisition written by Paula B. Compton and published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers. This book was released on 2009-11 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Take the First Step Toward Building a Strong Foundation in Federal Acquisition! Federal Acquisition: Key Issues and Guidance is an essential guide to understanding and working within the complex world of federal government contracting. It offers brief but comprehensive explanations of the major phases and essential tasks in the contracting process. Written in a clear and easy-to-understand style, this resource provides the perfect foundation for building a thorough understanding of federal contracting. Author Paula Compton focuses on the most problematic areas of federal contracting, highlighting the deficiencies cited most often by the Government Accountability Office and Inspector General audits and reports, such as: • Not performing market research • Inadequate independent government cost estimates • Violation of the bona fide needs rule • Insufficient statements of work • Inadequate price or cost analysis Anyone new to government acquisition will find that reading this book is the ideal first step on the path to understanding the federal acquisition process. Seasoned contract professionals will find it an excellent quick review.
Download or read book Performance Based Service Acquisition PBSA written by Fred J. Lacey IV. and published by . This book was released on 2004-03-01 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Federal procurement has typically focused much of its efforts on the acquisition of products, with acquisition of services not being held in as high of regard. However, recent changes have required the Department of Defense and the US Air Force (USAF) to increase spending on services. This significant increase in spending on services suggests a need to ensure acquisition professionals are prepared to apply sound business judgment to Performance Based Service Acquisition (PBSA) strategies. PBSA involves acquisition strategies, methods, and techniques that describe and communicate measurable outcomes rather than direct performance processes. The Secretary of Defense, in order to ensure the success of PBSA, has established a goal of 50% of all service acquisitions meet PBSA requirements by 2005. This thesis looks the current status of PBSA with the USAF, if goals are being met, are there any trends to suggest future usage of PBSA, and what factors, if any, are related to whether a contract is classified as having been awarded using PBSA strategies. A combination of demographics, nominal logistical regression, and contingency tables will used in order to determine if the USAF is in compliance and if there are correlations within PBSA that affect its use. The results of this thesis will serve as a starting point from which further research can develop and provide information that can help utilize PBSA in the future.
Download or read book Performance Based Contracting written by Steve McKinzie and published by . This book was released on 2011-01-01 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Book Review: Performance-Based Contracting Step by Step Process to Achieve - Checklists Toolkit Best Practices Multi-million and billion-dollar government contracts are increasingly being awarded as a result of performance-based statements of work developed by government acquisition teams. In the past, a federal agency would issue a statement of work setting out the work to be done, minimum requirements, performance dates and so on.Today, more and more federal agencies are requesting performance work statements (PWS) which turns the procedure around. Simply defined, performance-based contracting allows government to acquire services via contracts that define what is to be achieved, not necessarily how it is done. Contractors are required to develop the statement of work using performance metrics, measuring tools and a quality assurance plan. It enables contractors to follow an innovative development approach and allows the agency to evaluate each proposal for performance benefits before the contract is awarded.Writing a Performance-Based Statement of Work is not easy. Focusing on the product to be purchased and outcomes and not the process requires discipline and guidance. This book, Performance Based Contracting, is an invaluable guide in understanding this process and helping government put in place more effective, efficient acquisitions and industry to secure major federal contracts.The book shows you how to write a successful performance-based statement of work with lots of case studies and examples. Chapters lead you through all the steps necessary from planning and market research to writing the performance-based statement of work and everything in between.The book highlights the key elements of performance-based acquisition which encourage innovative business practices and emphasizes that performance-based acquisition requires the participation of all stakeholders the users, the acquisition workforce and industry to ensure the requirement is adequately satisfied.The book also stresses that it is vital that all stakeholders understand the importance of their role in the process which is comprehensive and must include the user, and many different functional team members including financial managers, legal advisors, program (project) managers, contracting officers, contracting specialists and so on. It is essential that industry be a key participant, especially, but not only, when the requirements are complex.This is a ''must read'' book for anyone and everyone involved in the federal contracting whether they are seeking to win contracts or are responsible for awarding and managing them.The authors have researched extensively through federal sources to bring the reader the most comprehensive desk reference available on all aspects of the performance-based contracting. This book has drawn heavily on the authoritative materials published by the a wide range of federal agencies including the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the General Services Administration (GSA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Headquarters, Department of the Army. Then, the authors have organized the information into an organized and logical presentation, added their own experience and a high value step-by-step process to provide a valuable resource to contract veterans and newcomers alike.The easy to follow step-by-step process explains the duties and responsibilities of all parties in the acquisition process, key skill areas required and how these are applied throughout the contracting life cycle. Finally, the authors provide a wealth of forms, report formats, checklists checklists and more checklists that guide all key individuals through the performance-based process.Throughout this handbook, there are case studies, checklists, exercises and structured "if-then" guides designed to prepare contract writers and evaluators for the tasks in hand, give them a powerful set of management tools, motivate them to succeed and inspire them to adopt best practices in order to achieve even more positive performance outcomes.
Download or read book Contract Administration in a Performance Based Acquisition Environment is Serious Business written by John Cavadias and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 12 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many of us are eager to implement Performance-Based Services Acquisitions (PBSA) as we attempt to comply with procurement and acquisition reform. Although there is an abundance of written material instructing us on how to develop and award a PBSA, we find far less guidance on the emerging realities in administering an awarded PBSA. Contract administration in a PBSA environment is mission-critical, not to be treated as an ancillary responsibility subordinate to originating acquisitions. This article approaches this viewpoint by examining the post-award management of a single service in one commercial industry and compares it to government contracting practices particularly with an emphasis on legacy cradle-to-grave organizational structures while also exploring the need for a shift in government perspective and change in organizational practices.
Download or read book Implementing Performance based Services Acquisition PBSA written by John A. Ausink and published by RAND Corporation. This book was released on 2002 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The U.S. Air Force is implementing performance-based practices in its service contracts to improve quality and reduce costs. Earlier Project AIR FORCE research examined implementation in installation support services. The project has now examined purchased services that support weapon system development and sustainment ('systems' services). Under performance-based services acquisition (PBSA), buyers should (1) describe what service is desired (not how to do it), (2) use measurable performance standards and quality assurance plans, (3) specify procedures for reductions in fee or price when services do not meet contract requirements, and (4) include performance incentives where appropriate. The authors conducted interviews at an Air Logistics Center and a Product Center to learn whether and how service contracts included these performance-based practices. Many at the two Centers felt that it is difficult for systems service contracts to satisfy all four of the PBSA criteria. To satisfy the requirement to use "measurable performance standards," for example, some personnel believe that the desired result of a service must be known in advance and objective data must be collected frequently to measure performance against that result. This cannot be easily done for many systems services such as engineering support and advisory and assistance services. Despite this difficulty, however, both Centers use a performance-based approach (applying the other three criteria) to purchase many services, and many personnel felt that they can determine and convey whether the contractor met their needs. The authors conclude that many of the approaches used by the Centers satisfy the intent of the criteria.
Download or read book Surveillance of Information Technology IT Performance Based Service Acquisitions PBSAs written by and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 75 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: GAO report 05-274 states nearly half of an organization's yearly budget is being spent on services. Consequently, DoD must ensure that contractors performing these services are being effectively monitored. The purpose of this joint applied project is to examine IT performance based service acquisitions and assess what performance measurements are being used to gauge the contractor's effectiveness. This research project will provide a literary review of Performance Based Contracts (PBCs), Performance Based Service Contracts (PBSC), Performance Based Service Acquisition (PBSA) and related topics. This review will be conducted using various Governmental legislative and regulatory guidance and best commercial practices. The research will include a gathering of survey information from contracting officers, Directors of Information Management offices, Information Technology (IT) technical personnel and TACOM IT contractors. This information will then provide a comparative analysis for recommendations and conclusions. To conclude, this joint applied project will include creating and posting performance measurement guidance for the TACOM Community website to provide all contracting personnel with the means to develop performance measures for IT performance based service contracts.
Download or read book Past Performance Handbook written by Joseph W. Beausoleil and published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers. This book was released on 2010-07 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Best Guide to Past Performance Evaluation in Government Contracting Just Got Better! The Past Performance Handbook has long been the resource contracting professionals have turned to for guidance on evaluating contractor performance and making award decisions in competitive acquisitions based on the evaluation results. Now this essential resource has been completely updated and revised to bring readers the most up-to-date information they need to conduct past performance evaluations. Past Performance Handbook: Applying Commercial Practices to Federal Procurement, Second Edition, not only includes a detailed explanation of the process of past performance evaluation, but also presents new approaches to standardizing assessment areas and rating scales, streamlining the source selection process, and ensuring that awards are made to the most qualified offerors. This thoroughly revised second edition offers: • Additional focus on the collaboration between the government and contractors in providing past performance information • Enhanced definitions of numerical scoring, adjectival ratings, color coding schema, and risk assessments — all consistent with the current guidelines issued by the Department of Defense and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) • Updated citations from the Federal Acquisition Regulation, OFPP, and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) • Abridged GAO decisions that provide details for citations included in the text. Contracting officers and contractors working with the government will find value in every chapter of this updated edition.
Download or read book Performance Based Acquisitions written by United States House of Representatives and published by . This book was released on 2019-09-14 with total page 76 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Performance-based acquisitions: creating solutions or causing problems?: hearing before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, second session, May 8, 2008.
Download or read book Federal Government Reform Initiatives written by Edward J. Shaffer and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 150 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Performance Based Acquisitions written by United States. Congress and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-01-18 with total page 74 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Performance-based acquisitions : creating solutions or causing problems? : hearing before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, second session, May 8, 2008.
Download or read book Research Development Contracting written by and published by . This book was released on 1963 with total page 218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Performance Based Contracting in the Air Force A Report on Experiences in the Field written by and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 69 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A performance-based contract tells the seller what the buyer wants done, not how to do it, and since 1991 it has been the policy of the federal government that agencies use performance-based contracting methods to the maximum extent practicable when acquiring services. Department of Defense interest in performance-based contracting has increased in recent years, and in April 2000 the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology directed that 50 percent of service acquisitions be performance based by the year 2005. A variety of Air Force instructions, publications, and policies are in place to aggressively implement this policy. The primary goal of this study is to use examples of successful Air Force applications of performance-based services acquisition (PBSA) to illustrate how to pursue these practices elsewhere. In this documented briefing, the results of interviews with personnel at Air Force bases that have used PBSA are arranged as a "walk-through" of the process of applying these techniques to the development of a contract. On the basis of these interview results, we reach several conclusions about what seems to work in the field and what needs to be improved, and we then summarize these conclusions in a list of lessons learned from experiences in PBSA implementation.
Download or read book Owning the Technical Baseline for Acquisition Programs in the U S Air Force written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2016-10-25 with total page 83 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: While there are examples of successful weapon systems acquisition programs within the U.S. Air Force (USAF), many of the programs are still incurring cost growth, schedule delays, and performance problems. The USAF now faces serious challenges in acquiring and maintaining its weapons systems as it strives to maintain its current programs; add new capabilities to counter evolving threats; and reduce its overall program expenditures. Owning the technical baseline is a critical component of the Air Force's ability to regain and maintain acquisition excellence. Owning the technical baseline allows the government acquisition team to manage and respond knowledgeably and effectively to systems development, operations, and execution, thereby avoiding technical and other programmatic barriers to mission success. Additionally, owning the technical baseline ensures that government personnel understand the user requirements, why a particular design and its various features have been selected over competing designs, and what the options are to pursue alternative paths to the final product given unanticipated cost, schedule, and performance challenges. Owning the Technical Baseline for Acquisition Programs in the U.S. Air Force discusses the strategic value to the Air Force of owning the technical baseline and the risk of not owning it and highlights key aspects of how agencies other than the Air Force own the technical baseline for their acquisition programs. This report identifies specific barriers to owning the technical baseline for the Air Force and makes recommendations to help guide the Air Force in overcoming those barriers.
Download or read book Performance Based Services Acquisition written by Donald S. Huges and published by . This book was released on 2001-12-01 with total page 201 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Performance Based Services Acquisitions (PBSA) has recently garnered a significant amount of attention in the realm of Federal procurement. The procurement of services accounts for nearly half of the Federal dollars spent annually and a portion of that is spent for logistics services. Obviously, this is a dynamic tins for acquisition reform and as acquisition professionals; each of us needs to manage PBSA contracts in a manner that applies sound business judgment. This can ha accomplished by employing strategies that rely on our education, training and lessons learned from the shared past experiences of the acquisition community. The purpose of this thesis was to determine the essential features of a classification system for logistics services. For selected logistics services from the OMB Circular A-76 the researcher applied an existing modal (Allan, 1991) in order to evaluate logistics services. The methodology employed to gather data was a survey distributed to a select group of acquisition professionals. The survey data were analyzed to identify key issues associated with evaluating a classification system for logistics services. The thesis concludes with recommendations for implementing a classification scheme for logistics services within the Federal Government.
Download or read book Implementation of Performance based Acquisition in Non Western Countries written by Fatih Cebeci and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 238 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Performance Based Service Acquisition PBSA A Dynamic Look at PBSA in the Air Force written by and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Federal procurement has typically focused much of its efforts on the acquisition of products, with acquisition of services not being held in as high of regard. However, recent changes have required the Department of Defense and the US Air Force (USAF) to increase spending on services. This significant increase in spending on services suggests a need to ensure acquisition professionals are prepared to apply sound business judgment to Performance Based Service Acquisition (PBSA) strategies. PBSA involves acquisition strategies, methods, and techniques that describe and communicate measurable outcomes rather than direct performance processes. The Secretary of Defense, in order to ensure the success of PBSA, has established a goal of 50% of all service acquisitions meet PBSA requirements by 2005. This thesis looks the current status of PBSA with the USAF, if goals are being met, are there any trends to suggest future usage of PBSA, and what factors, if any, are related to whether a contract is classified as having been awarded using PBSA strategies. A combination of demographics, nominal logistical regression, and contingency tables will used in order to determine if the USAF is in compliance and if there are correlations within PBSA that affect its use. The results of this thesis will serve as a starting point from which further research can develop and provide information that can help utilize PBSA in the future.