Defining Needs and Managing Performance of Installation Support Contracts

Perspectives from the Commercial Sector

Laura H. Baldwin, Sarah B. Hunter

ResearchPublished 2004

This study describes an analysis of best commercial practices in purchasing facilities services and food services and how buyers and providers apply performance-based practices in their contracts. The authors interviewed relevant personnel at six commercial firms that are prominent buyers or providers of these services to draw "lessons learned" for the Air Force. They found that (1) two-way communication is at the heart of productive buyer-provider relationships; (2) a reasonable number of meaningful performance metrics can enhance communication; (3) contracts that describe what is needed rather than how those needs should be met support provider efforts to innovate and reduce costs; (4) benchmarking can enhance evaluation of proposals or performance; (5) formal contractual incentives can be a powerful tool; and (6) contract flexibility can yield important performance and cost benefits.

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  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Available
  • Year: 2004
  • Print Format: Paperback
  • Paperback Pages: 75
  • Paperback Price: $20.00
  • Paperback ISBN/EAN: 978-0-8330-3495-3
  • Document Number: MR-1812-AF

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RAND Style Manual
Baldwin, Laura H. and Sarah B. Hunter, Defining Needs and Managing Performance of Installation Support Contracts: Perspectives from the Commercial Sector, RAND Corporation, MR-1812-AF, 2004. As of September 12, 2024: https://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1812.html
Chicago Manual of Style
Baldwin, Laura H. and Sarah B. Hunter, Defining Needs and Managing Performance of Installation Support Contracts: Perspectives from the Commercial Sector. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2004. https://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1812.html. Also available in print form.
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The research reported here was sponsored by the United States Air Force and conducted within RAND Project AIR FORCE.

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