Government Contracting

Chico, California, USA National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan

• Big Picture — Big IssuesThe Big Picture: International Implications of Procurement CorruptionThe Scourge of Procurement CorruptionCorruption AvoidanceConclusionNotesProcesses and Issues in ContractingThe Contracting Cycle: Overview of the Contracting ProcessConsequences of Failed Contract PlanningProgram Success through Effective Contract PlanningRobust Contract Planning’s Contribution to Efficiency and EthicsConclusionNotesEthics in ContractingGlobal Need for Ethical Government ContractingPummeled by Corruption: Consequences for Government and ContractorsOptimal Government Service and Increased Contractor ProfitEssential Features for Ethical Contracting ProgramsConclusionNotesSole Source or Competition?Appeal of Competitive ContractingEstablishing a Favorable Environment for Competitive ProcurementFailed Competition Fosters Corruption and Diminishes BudgetsMultiple Benefits of Full and Open CompetitionConclusionNotesSocial Objectives through Government ContractingSocial Contracting FundamentalsFailed Social Contracting Creates Exposure to CorruptionEstablishing an Effective Social Contracting ProgramGovernment Goal Achievement and Improved Contractor Profitability through Successful Social ContractingConclusionNotesSolicitations and Pre-Proposal CommunicationsSolicitation FundamentalsFailed Management of Pre-Proposal Communications and Protest VulnerabilityContent of the Best Practices RFPSuperior Contractor Selection and Protest Avoidance with Best Practices RFPErrant Contractor Selection and Corruption Exposure with Deficient RFPPromises of Well-Managed Pre-Proposal CommunicationsProtest and Fraud Avoidance through Well-Managed Pre-Proposal CommunicationsConclusionNotesProposal EvaluationProcess for Selecting the Best ContractorOptimizing Contractor Selection with Weighted Proposal Evaluation CriteriaEffective Reaction to Protests from Aggrieved ContractorsOvercoming the Perils of a Deficient Proposal Evaluation ProcessPerils of Selecting a Marginal ContractorRewards of Selecting the Superior ContractorConclusionNotesContract AdministrationContract Administration FundamentalsInvoice Analysis for Avoiding OverpaymentsA Process for Forecasting Contract Cost OverrunsMaintaining Program Integrity by Effectively Managing Contract ModificationsEnsuring Timely Milestone Completions and DeliverablesEnergizing Underperforming ContractorsThreat to Program Success from Flawed Contract Administration Administering Contracts to Promote Program SuccessImproved Profit, Quality, and Timeliness for Government ContractorsConclusionNotesContracting During EmergenciesFundamentals of Emergency ContractingPrivate-Sector Contributions to Emergency ResponseImproved Delivery and Quality while Controlling Emergency Contract CostsNeed to Establish Response Mechanism in Advance of International EmergenciesObtaining Private-Sector Buy-In to International Emergency Response MechanismFailed Emergency Response and Corruption Exposure from Deficient PlanningProtecting Lives and Property during Emergency ResponseConclusionNotesContract Completion and AuditFundamentals of Contract CompletionContractor Performance EvaluationsFundamentals of Contract AuditingDeficient Performance Evaluations and Audits Perpetuate FailureUtility of Effective Contractor Performance EvaluationContributions of Effective Contract AuditingBenefits of Effective Records Retention, Performance Evaluation, and Contract AuditingPromises and Perils Following Completion of Contractor’s ResponsibilitiesConclusionNotesAppendix: Glossary of Terms

Mr. Curry takes on the ethical and social issues involved in Government contracting in a persuasive and reader friendly manner. No wasted discussions on philosophical issues but direct and meaningful methods of improving a broken system. Suggested reading not only for contracting personnel but anyone involved in government policy making.—Lee Schuh, Contracting consultant and instructor Government Contracting: Promises and Perils by William Sims Curry is a good read for government and industry contracting, acquisition and program management professionals. Mr. Curry’s book integrates an emphasis on strong acquisition planning up-front in the acquisition life cycle. Those of us with significant experience and leadership in major acquisition programs know that effective acquisition planning normally results in a clean and effective contract award. Effective acquisition planning leads toward more successful achievement of mission objectives within cost, schedule and scope parameters in a post –award contract management environment. —John Dobriansky, CPCM, NCMA Fellow, National Contract Management Assoc.Seldom does a book come along that has true value to the active practitioner in any field. Contracting is fundamental to business of any type and doing so well is extremely important to business success. This book and supplemental material gives any contracting professional a plethora of sound advice and real tools with which to design, develop and implement contracts in a professional and ethical manner. A must for any contract professional’s desk.—Greg Sanger, PhD, SpectraSensorsProvides cautionary insights into the government procurement processes. A solid treatment of government contracting techniques. Contemporary and in tune with contracting events of the day. —Dr. Mike Criss, CPCM. 29-year member of the National Contract Management Association; member of the Executive Advisory Council and Ethics and Standards Committee. This book fills an important gap in teaching contracting in public administration graduate programs. Managers, contractors, and students of this dynamic field will find in this volume a wealth of practical techniques and policy ideas for sound and ethical contracting.—M. Ernita Joaquin, University of Nevada, Las Vegas