A handbook for contracting officers

• Main Author: Conti, Karen M.
• Other Authors: Yoder, E. Cory
• Published: Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School 2012
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10945/10239

Joint Applied Project === The purpose of this Joint Applied Project is to develop and field a Contracting Officer/Team Leader Handbook. Multiple factors have led to an environment that is less than optimal for the accomplishment of the acquisition mission. There has been a significant loss of corporate knowledge in the Communications-Electronics Life Cycle Management Command (CE LCMC) workforce combined with acceleration in promotions to the GS-13 level. The experience level of current Contracting Officers is limited due to rapid promotions. In the past few years the organizational culture focused more on cycle time reductions, versus the quality of the work product in order to satisfy the needs of the customer. In addition, since the supervisory role was raised to the GS-14 level, and GS-13's were relieved of supervisory responsibility, there has been increased confusion as to the role of the team leader. Initial research suggests that Contracting Officers/Team Leaders need another resource to support them in the accomplishment of their varied duties. The C-E LCMC Acquisition Center's strategic plan for the next 12-month period sets forth a vision of a new business culture - one that defines competency at three different levels. The first level is "Do" a complex task (being able to repeat this task consistently), followed by level two, which is "Understand Why" (being able to take learned knowledge and apply that to solving the next problem and doing the next task; being able to improve execution each time and refine), and ending with level three "Explain the Why" (mastering knowledge and skill so that one can do it again and show someone how to do it and why), which leads others to competency. The plan is to enhance the workforce skill sets, ensure contracting is done right, and focus on leadership development. The objective of this project is to align with this plan and provide a guide that supports Contracting Officers/Team Leaders in three key areas: technical competence, leadership, and customer relations.