Quality of Competition for Defense Contracts under “Better Buying Power”

Defense contract obligations have declined by over 25 percent from their peak in FY2009, and budget caps are in place through FY2021. The Department of Defense (DoD) is focused therefore on achieving greater value and efficiency, in part by increasing competition in defense contracting. Better Buying Power (BBP) 3.0, announced on September 19 by Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Frank Kendall, presented the draft version of Better Buying Power 3.0 continued the emphasis on competition from previous versions of Better Buying Power.
 
Recent reports from the Government Accountability Office and others seem to indicate that competition not only failed to increase under BBP, but that it actually declined. However, CSIS analysis presents a different picture of the true state of competition in DoD contracting. "Quality of Competition for Defense Contracts Under 'Better Buying Power'" shows how rates of effective competition in DoD contracting have changed over the last six years and complements data to be presented in the FY2013 edition of CSIS’ Defense Contract Trends report, published on October 16.