Spend Analysis on Acquisition for Studies and Analysis in the U.S Navy

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to analyze the U.S. Navy's procurement of studies and analysis to identify contracting offices, contractors, service categories, and contracting characteristics. Studies and analysis are services that influence Navy decision-makers and defense capabilities; therefore, it is vital to know how the Navy acquires study and analysis services. Knowledge from this analyzed spending data provides opportunities for decision-makers to see spending characteristics, efficiencies, and relationships between contracting offices, contractors, and study and analysis service categories. The results from this research also provides a foundation for strategic sourcing strategies to improve support of national defense strategies. This research reaches two recommendations concerning the limitation of the current taxonomy in place and the strategies that may be most beneficial to the various categories of services. The research also serves as a lead for further study on the adoption of new categorization tools, better understanding of what drives contracting officers to use category descriptions such as Defense or Other, and the effectiveness of the distribution of study and analysis services.