Description: The federal government now spends about 40 percent of its discretionary budget to buy everything from office supplies to weapon systems. When the government buys simple products, like paper clips, they can turn to well-established acquisition strategies and practices and apply them to richly competitive markets. When government agencies buy complex products, like weapon systems, conventional acquisition approaches are often insufficient and markets are more challenging.
This report examines contracting for complex products by reviewing the U.S. Coast Guard's experience with its Deepwater Program. The Deepwater Program was a major "system of systems" acquisition to upgrade and integrate the Coast Guard's sea and air assets (such as boats and airplanes). Based on their analysis of the Coast Guard experience, the authors offer lessons for the future as the government continues to face the challenge of acquiring complex products.
Trevor L Brown Associate Professor
The Ohio State University John Glenn School of Public Affairs
310L Page Hall, 1810 College Road
Columbus, OH 43210-1336
(614) 292-4533
Email: brown.2296@osu.edu
Matthew Potoski Associate Professor
Iowa State University Department of Political Science
519 Ross Hall
Ames, IA 50011
(515) 294-2935
Email: potoski@iastate.edu
David M Van Slyke Associate Professor
Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
320 Eggers Hall
Syracuse, NY 13244
(315) 443-8840
Email: vanslyke@maxwell.syr.edu
