Analysis of United States Air Forces Central Government Purchase Card Reachback Viability

Abstract

This project investigates the viability of performing United States Air Forces Central (USAFCENT) government purchase card (GPC) purchases by utilizing reachback services. The study analyzed FY 2011 data to include the number of deployed contingency contracting officers (CCOs), GPC actions, and total contract actions at each Expeditionary Contracting Squadron. Using this data, models were developed that showed potential reductions in deployed CCOs if GPC actions were sent from USAFCENT area of responsibility to a stateside reachback cell.

The study provides recommendations based on the potential reductions of deployed CCOs. One such recommendation is to stand up a test reachback cell. This cell will employ the recommended number of personnel developed by the models in this project.