DOD to Perform First Review of Private Contracts In Over 30 Years

July 23, 2021 by Brock Blasdell
DOD to Perform First Review of Private Contracts In Over 30 Years

WASHINGTON – The Department of Defense is conducting its first fiscal research study in over 30 years to determine the efficiency and overall health of the military industry and its private contractors. The decision comes as part of a push by the DOD to utilize budgeted funds more efficiently in the face of supply shortages and bottlenecks created by COVID-19. 

The Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University announced in late June they would be assisting in the research after a $1 million award from the Office of Defense Pricing and Contracting within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.

“These studies are part of a DOD effort with universities to undertake independent research to better understand the finance dynamics in the defense marketplace,” the George Mason Center for Government Contracting announced in a press release. “Mason will examine free cash flow in the defense sector, the impact of cash flow by contract type and financing, financing and its impact on small businesses, and government accounting system requirements as a barrier to the commercial sector’s willingness to do business with the federal government.”


The annual Government Contract Pricing Summit, the federal government’s yearly heart-to-heart with the contracting industry, saw incentive-based contracts being pushed over fixed-rate contracts, indicating the government is looking to give private partnerships more wiggle room in how they approach their contracts.


One of the ways the Department of Defense is looking to increase efficiency is by micro-managing less and seeking more ways to find balance with private industry leaders. 


“Leadership plays a very important role in this particular area, in terms of challenging the workforce,” Janice Muskopf, DOD director of Price, Cost and Finance, said at the Government Contracting Price Summit. “I believe our contracting officers, as part of their basic role, are to exercise judgment. When people exercise reasonable judgment, and they’ve got their leadership on board with them, they really don’t have anything to fear.”

This push within the defense contracting industry aligns with the Biden administration’s budgetary goals for the defense industry in 2022, within which, they propose a $12 billion increase to make smart and disciplined choices regarding national defense in the face of climate change and COVID-19; to more accurately distribute resources to evolving threats; and to address strategic competition with China. 

A+
a-

Defense

China Threatens Consequences Over US Warship's Actions

BANGKOK (AP) — China threatened “serious consequences” Friday after the United States Navy sailed a destroyer around the disputed Paracel... Read More

BANGKOK (AP) — China threatened “serious consequences” Friday after the United States Navy sailed a destroyer around the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea for the second day in a row, in a move Beijing claimed was a violation of its sovereignty and security.... Read More

US Announces Sanctions on Iran Drone Procurement Network

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States said Tuesday it is imposing a new round of sanctions on Iranian firms and people accused... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States said Tuesday it is imposing a new round of sanctions on Iranian firms and people accused of procuring equipment used for Iranian drones. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control coordinated with the FBI to designate four firms and three people in Iran... Read More

February 28, 2023
by Kate Michael
US Officials Say Moscow Suspension of New START a Fixable ‘Mistake’

WASHINGTON — U.S. Arms Control officials are concerned about Russia’s recent announcement suspending the nation’s participation in New START, but... Read More

WASHINGTON — U.S. Arms Control officials are concerned about Russia’s recent announcement suspending the nation’s participation in New START, but they are willing to allow Moscow to fix its “mistake” and resume involvement in the treaty.  “Last week, we learned that President Putin had chosen to... Read More

Military Finishes Recovering Chinese Balloon Debris

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has finished efforts to recover the remnants of the large balloon that was shot down... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has finished efforts to recover the remnants of the large balloon that was shot down off the coast of South Carolina, and analysis of the debris so far reinforces conclusions that it was a Chinese spy balloon, U.S. officials said Friday. Officials... Read More

February 15, 2023
by Dan McCue
MUFON Says It's Ready and Willing to Help Intel Committees Unravel UFO Mystery

CINCINNATI — The world’s oldest organization dedicated exclusively to the scientific study of UFOs and other unknown aerial phenomena says... Read More

CINCINNATI — The world’s oldest organization dedicated exclusively to the scientific study of UFOs and other unknown aerial phenomena says it's ready and willing to help intelligence committees on Capitol Hill get to the bottom of the recent rash of strange incidents in the skies above... Read More

February 13, 2023
by Dan McCue
Biden to Establish Interagency Group to Look Into UFOs in US Airspace

WASHINGTON — The White House announced Monday that President Joe Biden is establishing an interagency group to look into unidentified... Read More

WASHINGTON — The White House announced Monday that President Joe Biden is establishing an interagency group to look into unidentified objects in U.S. airspace. The formation of the inquiry team was announced by White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby, who briefed reporters for nearly an... Read More

News From The Well
scroll top