An Analysis of Total System Performance Responsibility in Air Force Acquisitions

This research examined how well the goals and objectives of total system performance responsibility (TSPR) are being met. The research was sparked by the rise of implementing TSPR as an element of an acquisition strategy in many weapon and information systems. Acquisition professionals use TSPR to decrease total ownership cost, improve system performance, and optimize public-private support capabilities while maintaining operational flexibility. However, while the number of programs that use or plan to implement TSPR or some form of contractor support and sustainment continues to increase, little research has been conducted concerning the effectiveness of TSPR as an element of an acquisition strategy. TSPR transfers performance responsibility and risk to the contractor by giving the contractor more discretion over design, configuration, and requirements solutions. The contractor is also given performance responsibility over the fielded system. The government retains program management as well as budget and contracting functions. Under TSPR the roles and relationship between government and contractor change from oversight to insight. Research findings indicate that management should carefully consider the appropriateness of TSPR for a given program. TSPR has the potential to be an effective element of an acquisition strategy, but requires contractor innovation, change management, successful long-term partnerships based on mutually aligned goals and consensus among government personnel concerning core activities. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.