NatioNal CoNtraCt MaNageMeNt assoCiatioN
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Defense Contract Management agency
The Defense Contract Management
Agency is an independent combat support
agency within the Department of Defense
(DOD). Headquartered in Northern
Virginia, DCMA is organized into six
divisions and 30 centers that oversee 50
contract management offices responsible
for the work performed at more than 900
operating locations worldwide.
Approximately 10,000 civilian and
military professionals in plants throughout
the United States and in 26 countries
around the world carry out DCMA’s
mission: to provide customer-focused
acquisition life cycle and combat support
to ensure readiness, worldwide, 24/7.
As DOD’s contract manager, DCMA is
responsible for ensuring federal and allied
government acquisition programs (i.e.,
systems, supplies, and services) are deliv-
ered on time and within projected cost or
price and meet performance requirements.
Managing 291,000 prime contracts
with current work valued at more than
$950 billion, DCMA’s professional staff
interacts with customers on a daily basis
to make sure that the services provided
meet the customers’ needs. Additionally,
DCMA professionals serve as information
brokers and in-plant representatives for
military buying agencies throughout the
acquisition life cycle as well as during the
lives of the resulting contracts.
By engaging in various aspects of the
acquisition life cycle, DCMA directly con-
tributes to the military readiness of the
United States and its allies and helps pre-
serve the nation’s freedom.
Before a contract is awarded, DCMA
professionals provide advice and services
to help customers construct effective solic-
itations, identify potential risks, select
the most capable contractors, and write
contracts that meet the needs of DOD and
other federal agencies. Following contract
award, DCMA assesses contractors’ busi-
ness and technical systems to ensure their
products, costs, and schedules comply
with the terms and condition