Comparison of Source Selection Strategies Between the United States and Taiwan’s Shipbuilding Procurement

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to identify and analyze the source selection strategy of shipbuilding procurement by comparing source selection approaches, processes, team structures, evaluation factors, contract types, and small business participation requirements between the U.S. Navy and Taiwan’s Navy. I collected data from the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) website for U.S. shipbuilding solicitations and Taiwan’s Government e-Procurement System website for Taiwan’s shipbuilding solicitations. Based on the comparative analysis and implications of findings, I identified that most of the shipbuilding solicitations conducted tradeoff as a source selection approach in both countries. However, the source selection processes, source selection team structures, contract types, evaluation factors, and small business participation requirements are different. To maximize the overall benefit for the U.S. Navy and Taiwan’s Navy, this thesis provided five recommendations for future shipbuilding procurement. These recommendations included revealing budget amount in the U.S. solicitations, increasing transparency and diversity in the U.S. Source Selection Evaluation Board (SSEB), enhancing qualitative assessment in the U.S. evaluation rating method and streamlining the rating process in Taiwan, increasing the use of various payment methods in Taiwan’s shipbuilding procurement, and developing thorough support policy for Taiwan’s small business.