Joint Effects-based Contracting and "Phase - "0" Operations

Abstract

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) has published several works that highlight significant progress in the planning and execution of Operational Contract Support. For example, The Yoder Three-tier Model for Optimal Planning and Execution of Contingency Contracting (YTTM) research project (NPS-AM-05-002), the Joint Effects-based Contracting project (NPS-AM-08-127), and many others are recent published works that may be instrumental in shaping public and military policy related to the structure, planning, and execution of Operational Contract Support. Of particular note is the NPS Joint Effects-based Contracting project (NPS-AM-08-127), which created a new concept of Operational Contract Support and developed and exercised simulation modeling to demonstrate the efficacy of the concepts. A key element of the work was the identification and creation of a Phase operational model. The results are that with the Phase concept in operation, significant efficiencies and greater effectiveness can be achieved in planning and executing any operation requiring Operational Contract Support. This sponsored research report proposes and formulates the concept of contract integration into joint doctrine and planning documents as a key element of meeting potential gains in efficiency and effectiveness of operations, and in meeting elements of the revised title 10 U.S.C. section 2333, directly shaping public policy. Of particular concern to the author is that despite significant movement and progress in developing the Operational Contract Support construct, joint planners and practitioners in supported and supporting roles are still suboptimized due to the lack of an integrated structure and construct at the joint strategic level.