This report is one in a series of reports that summarizes key themes and lessons learned from our body of oversight work in several key areas. We offer these summaries to provide helpful and timely information relevant to DoD priorities.
The DoD is the world’s largest purchaser of goods and services. In FY 2024, the DoD obligated $1.4 trillion to contractors for a variety of goods and services, including weapons systems, spare parts, fuel, maintenance, and healthcare. Robust contract oversight is crucial to ensuring contractors are held accountable for meeting the requirements of the contract, which is critically important to enhancing DoD lethality and readiness. We recognize that DoD contracting officials are in a unique environment due to unexpected contingencies and the complex nature of DoD acquisitions. However, implementing the recommendations in our reports across the DoD should assist DoD contracting officials in providing better contract oversight.