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Review of a New Data Management System for the Social Security Administration (1978) / Chapter Skim
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6. Contracting Issues
Pages 54-57

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From page 54...
... Thus, characteristically, in the past, the Air Force has historically awarded a prime contract for a new aircraft or missile system, and the successful bidder has then dealt with second and third tier subcontractors. In such cases, the prime contractor was the sole interface with the Air Force management team, which reviewed the prime contractor's effort largely for schedule, *
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From page 55...
... The integrating contractor has been prohibited from supplying hardware and, in effect, became an extension of the Air Force management structure, but with broader skills and a much higher manpower effort. Alternatively, on more recent aircraft programs, the Air Force has identified certain critical participants and put them in an "associate contractor" status -- i.e., they report directly to the Air Force for management rather than through the prime contractor.
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From page 56...
... Some consideration is being given by the Air Force to include the purchase of a design -- or even two -- before firm schedules and funding are established for the final product. It is generally accepted that the software industry has not yet evolved good estimating techniques for costs and schedules, except in a few special cases.
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From page 57...
... mechanism that the Air Force uses to evaluate bids. (This is a major effort requiring tens of people, often for months, to carefully examine bids.)
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Key Terms

  • prime contractor
  • force management
  • consider hiring
  • remedial actions
  • management visibility

  • pert chart
  • engineering management
  • judging proposal
  • project review
  • actual progress

  • naive vendors
  • batch computer
  • recent aircraft
  • management team
  • management structure

  • cadre skilled
  • office issued
  • supplying hardware
  • panel offers
  • major acquisition

  • examine bids
  • ssa realizes
  • broader skills
  • nasa officials
  • danger signals

  • third generation
  • tier subcontractors
  • successfully managing
  • aggressively attend
  • hiring individuals


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