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 2008-03-11 monographic deposited born digital 42 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-572T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-572T P0b002ee1803844aa f:d08572t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-572T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-572T GAO-08-572T Agency missions Contract administration Contract oversight Cost effectiveness analysis Defense capabilities Defense cost control Department of Defense contractors Employee training Logistics Military forces Military personnel Military procurement Risk assessment Risk management Service contracts Strategic planning Training utilization Weapons systems Afghanistan Iraq Testimony A81272

The federal government, including the Department of Defense (DOD), is increasingly relying on contractors to carry out its missions. Governmentwide spending on contractor services has more than doubled in the last 10 years. DOD has used contractors extensively to support troops deployed abroad. The department recently estimated the number of contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan to be about 196,000. DOD also relies heavily on contractors for various aspects of weapon system logistics support. While contractors, when properly used, can play an important role in helping agencies accomplish their missions, GAO has identified long-standing problems regarding the appropriate role and management of contractors, particularly at DOD. This testimony highlights the challenges federal agencies face related to the increased reliance on contractors and the specific challenges DOD has had in managing its increased reliance on contractors who support deployed troops and who provide logistics support for weapons systems. This testimony also highlights some of the recommendations GAO has made over the past several years to improve DOD's management and oversight of contractors, as well as DOD's actions in response to those recommendations. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-572T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-572T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-572T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-572T.pdf GAO-08-572T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-572T Testimony GAO-08-572T; Defense Management: DOD Needs to Reexamine Its Extensive Reliance on Contractors and Continue to Improve Management and Oversight; Agency missions Contract administration Contract oversight Cost effectiveness analysis Defense capabilities Defense cost control Department of Defense contractors Employee training Logistics Military forces Military personnel Military procurement Risk assessment Risk management Service contracts Strategic planning Training utilization Weapons systems Afghanistan Iraq Title 10 Section 2464 Title 10 Section 2466(a) Title 10 Section 2667 10 U.S.C. 2464 10 U.S.C. 2466(a) 10 U.S.C. 2667 Public Law 105-270 Public Law 109-364 Public Law 110-181