United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2007-01-17 monographic deposited born digital 19 p. GA 1.13:GAO-07-359T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-359T P0b002ee1803893c1 f:d07359t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-359T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-359T GAO-07-359T Accountability Competition Contract administration Contract oversight Contracts Defense cost control Defense procurement Department of Defense contractors Financial management Procurement practices Requirements definition Service contracts Strategic planning Contract mismanagement Testimony A64917

The Department of Defense (DOD) is relying more and more on contractors to provide billions of dollars in services. Congress has been concerned about DOD's ability to prudently manage these funds, and this subcommittee in particular has pushed DOD to employ sound business practices when using the private sector for services. Nevertheless, DOD may not have always obtained good value while spending billions of dollars on services at a time when serious budget pressures are facing the nation. This testimony discusses DOD's (1) increasing reliance on contractors; (2) failure to consistently follow sound business practices when acquiring services; and (3) opportunities for DOD to improve its management of services. The testimony is based on GAO's work from the past decade as well as recent reports issued by the Inspectors General. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-359T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-359T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-359T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-359T.pdf GAO-07-359T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-359T Testimony GAO-07-359T; Defense Acquisitions: DOD Needs to Exert Management and Oversight to Better Control Acquisition of Services; Accountability Competition Contract administration Contract oversight Contracts Defense cost control Defense procurement Department of Defense contractors Financial management Procurement practices Requirements definition Service contracts Strategic planning Contract mismanagement Title 1110 Section 2304c 1110 U.S.C. 2304c