Incentives to Undertake Sourcing Studies in the Air Force

Approved for public release; distribution unlimited-iii-PREFACE As part of ongoing research to assist the Air Force in its outsourcing and privatization efforts, RAND's Project AIR FORCE was asked to examine the incentives for participants in the sourcing process (encompassing A-76 cost comparisons and direct conversions). The goal of this research is to suggest how process participants can best be induced to start and complete cost-effective sourcing studies that will help the Air Force reduce the cost of support activities without reducing military capability or quality of life. This briefing should interest managers and analysts involved with outsourcing and privatization in the Air Force. It also should interest support services managers and contracting officials in other military departments and in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. This work is part of the project " Improving Readiness Through Increased Access to Private Sources of Support " in the Resource Management and System Acquisition Program of Project AIR FORCE. Project AIR FORCE, a division of RAND, is the Air Force federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) for studies and analyses. It provides the Air Force with independent analyses of policy alternatives affecting the development, employment, combat readiness, and support of current and future aerospace forces.