**GAO-09-616T**                      Published: Apr 28, 2009. Publicly Released: Apr 28, 2009.                  

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## Highlights

Since 2001, Department of Defense's (DOD) spending on goods and services has more than doubled to $388 billion in 2008, while the number of civilian and military acquisition personnel has remained relatively stable. To supplement its in-house workforce, DOD relies heavily on contractor personnel. If it does not maintain an adequate workforce, DOD places its billion-dollar acquisitions at an increased risk of poor outcomes and vulnerability to fraud, waste, and abuse. This testimony is based on GAO's March 2009 report and addresses DOD's efforts to assess the sufficiency of the total acquisition workforce and to improve its management and oversight of that workforce. It also discusses selected practices of leading organizations that may provide DOD with insights for its efforts.

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## Topics

Human Capital

Contract administrationContract performanceContractor personnelData collectionData integrityDefense capabilitiesDefense procurementDepartment of Defense contractorsEmployee retentionHiring policiesHuman capitalHuman capital managementHuman capital planningMilitary forcesMilitary procurementPersonnel recruitingProcurementProcurement planningProcurement practicesSkilled laborStaff utilizationStrategic planning