DoD Source Selection: Competencies, Deficiencies, and Remedies

Abstract

The Department of Defense (DoD), due to inconclusive results from DoD source selection evaluation teams (SSETs), is vulnerable to selecting contractors that are not offering the best value to the government. Cryptic SSET results, furthermore, render the DoD's acquisition process susceptible to corruption, thus endangering the DoD's reputation as well as the careers and freedom of DoD military and civilian personnel. The DoD's source selection directives in DFARS Subpart 215.3, Source Selection, appear to be skillfully and professionally written. In actuality, however, there are weaknesses that contribute to cryptic SSET results. The DoD's prohibition against numerically weighing proposal evaluation factors and prohibition against assigning numerical scores to subjectively rated factors contribute to ambiguous SSET results, provide insufficient transparency, and render the process susceptible to fraud. This paper describes instances of contract corruption by government officials, provides accolades and criticisms of the DoD source selection principles and procedures, and recommends changes to clearly identify contractors offering best value to the government. Implementation of the recommendations presented here will remove ambiguity from the SSET, improve transparency, and reduce opportunities for corrupt officials to prosper through nefarious acts.