An Analysis of Contract Management Processes at the Space and Missile Systems Center and the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (Wright Patterson) Using the Contract Management Maturity Model

Abstract

The contract management maturity model (CMMM) is a proven tool for contract management process analysis across all phases of the acquisition process. This includes procurement planning, solicitation planning, solicitation, source selection, contract administration, and contract closeout. We use the Contract Management Maturity Assessment Tool (CMMAT) to apply the CMMM to the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) and the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center "Wright Patterson" (AFLCMC"WP") Contract Management processes. The SMC is headquartered at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, and the AFLCMC "WP" is at "Wright Patterson" Air Force Base, Ohio. The primary purpose of this research is to analyze the SMC and the AFLCMC "WP" contracting processes, to identify key process area strengths and weaknesses, to discuss examples of contract management process tools, and to make recommendations for improvements, if necessary. The results will provide the SMC and the AFLCMC "WP" with a snapshot of the maturity level of their contracting processes, allowing them to identify the unique challenges that they are facing, and providing an assessment tool to effectively engage and overcome these challenges and potentially improve the organizations contracting process.