United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1999-05-07 monographic deposited born digital 33 p. GA 1.13:RCED-99-141 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-RCED-99-141 P0b002ee18039e679 f:rc99141 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-RCED-99-141 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-RCED-99-141 RCED-99-141 Contract performance Contract terms Laboratories Management and operating contracts Cost control Performance measures Fixed price contracts Fixed price incentive contracts Contractor payments Letter Report RCED

The Department of Energy (DOE) contracts with private companies and educational institutions to run 18 of its 22 laboratories. These are cost reimbursement contracts under which DOE pays all of its contractors' allowable costs. In 1994, DOE switched to performance-based contracts as part of its contract reform program. This report provides information on the status of performance-based contracting in DOE's national laboratory contracts and efforts to determine the impact of performance-based contracting. GAO found that DOE's use of performance-based contracting for its laboratories is in a state of transition. GAO found a wide variance in the number of performance measures and the types of fees negotiated. Also, the contractors reported that the main benefits from performance-based contracting were that it has helped DOE clarify what it expects from the contractors and that it has improved communication. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-RCED-99-141/html/GAOREPORTS-RCED-99-141.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-RCED-99-141/pdf/GAOREPORTS-RCED-99-141.pdf GAO/RCED-99-141 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-RCED-99-141 Letter Report GAO/RCED-99-141; National Laboratories: DOE Needs to Assess the Impact of; Contract performance Contract terms Laboratories Management and operating contracts Cost control Performance measures Fixed price contracts Fixed price incentive contracts Contractor payments Title 5 Section 306(f) 5 U.S.C. 306(f)