Production competition has emerged as a major objective
in major weapon systems acquisition. The complexity and length
of the acquisition process, and the expense involved in major
weapon systems requires that early and careful planning be
conducted in order to achieve production competition. In this
study, the researcher defines and identifies the characteristics
and roles of the acquisition strategy, the acquisition
plan, functional implementation plans, and the contracting
strategy. The concept of production competition and the feasible
methodologies for pursuing it are investigated. Contracting
strategy formulation is studied in detail and program issues
that are consistently encountered in contracting strategy
formulation are presented. A methodology for identifying
problem issues in contracting strategy formulation is developed
and analyzed. The study concludes that the role of the contracting
officer and the contracting strategy is not sufficiently
recognized nor defined in the critical role of integrating
functional requirements and objectives into an integrated
acquisition plan.http://archive.org/details/contractingstrat00hayeLieutenant Commander, United States NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited
