Contracting Officer Representatives: The Key to Contract Success

The Department of Defense (DOD) is charged with securing the nation and its interests around the world. Warfighters rely on capabilities provided through acquisitions of goods and services. The acquisitions are either adopted from an existing government capability, purchased from a commercial entity, or developed specifically for the government. Each of these approaches utilizes government contracts. A contracting officer representative (COR) is the government employee appointed in writing by the contracting officer to serve as a liaison between the government and the contractor throughout the life of the contract. Additionally, the COR is responsible for managing performance of the contract and providing oversight to the contractor's delivery of contractual requirements. The risk of ineffective or unsatisfactory contract performance is wasted time and money, as well as unmet warfighter needs. The government has identified the need to address the problem of poor contract oversight and has implemented multiple approaches in an attempt to solve the problem. Such attempts have been to increase the number of people, develop new training, require certifications, and in some cases, provide the time necessary to accomplish the COR duties. Several case studies show poor-performing contracts can be turned around into high-performing contracts by employing an engaged COR with the training and experience to be successful.