DIRECTORATE OF PROCUREMENT
The mission of USSOCOM’s Directorate of Procurement (DOP) is to provide contracting and acquisition support to acquire special operations-peculiar weapon systems, equipment and services to support of the global war on terrorism. To meet this challenging mission, the DOP utilizes the most innovative, streamlined and expedited acquisition practices available, while maintaining strict compliance with required statutes and regulations. The director of procurement is Colonel John Cannaday, U.S. Air Force.
The directorate fulfills its mission through 15 contracting offices located throughout the United States. Each office is located to provide support to a particular USSOCOM component or unit. The largest office, located at the Tampa headquarters, supports the program executive officer requirements as well as enterprisewide programs across all components. Since the activation of the command’s acquisition authority in 1991, the level of acquisition and contracting support required has quintupled from the 1990s annual average of under $400 million in contract obligations to over $2.1 billion in fiscal year 2006. The DOP also played a key role in USSOCOM’s Packard Award winning programs, such as Directional Infrared Countermeasures, the Naval Special Warfare Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boat, and the Naval Special Warfare Special Operations Craft-Riverine.
The DOP uses innovative techniques to reduce acquisition cycle times and improve contractor performance. One technique frequently used to reduce cycle times is the Kaminski approach. This approach simply encourages that, when possible, pricing for development and production of an item be included in one contract. This approach allows the government to immediately enter the production phase (via exercise of an option) once the developmental work is successfully completed.
Prior to the Kaminski approach, the government would first award a contract for development of an item, then later award a separate contract for the production phase. By removing the bifurcated contract awards, competition was increased, and the acquisition cycle time was decreased. Contracting officers also make effective use of incentive business arrangements, such as award fee, incentive fee, award term (which gives the contractor the potential to earn additional years of performance), and performance-based payments. These arrangements have proven to be very effective at motivating contractor performance.
Another innovation is the streamlined contract award approval process. In the Department of Defense military departments (MILDEPs), it can take several weeks for a proposed contract award to be approved. In contrast, USSOCOM is able to approve contract awards in just a few days, or less if needed. This streamlined process can be attributed to several factors. First, USSOCOM has been delegated all the same procurement authority as the MILDEPs. Second, USSOCOM is a much smaller organization by comparison with all approval authorities resident at the same location. Finally, contract reviewers are included in integrated product teams and other planning meetings to help speed the approval process and lessen misunderstandings. Collectively these factors combine to effectively minimize the organizational distance between the contracting officer and the approving official, which results in expedited approvals.
By using innovative techniques, minimizing organizational friction, and streamlining procurement processes, the DOP is able to execute rapid acquisitions crucial to the success of our SOF warriors as we fight the global war on terrorism.
Industry points of contact at USSOCOM are the technical industrial liaison officer, David Johnson, (813) 826-9482, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and, for small and disadvantaged businesses, Karen Pera, (813) 826-7549, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . ♦