Operational Contract Support

This part establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures for operational contract support (OCS), including OCS program management, contract support integration, and integration of defense contractor personnel into contingency operations outside the United States. An interim final rule is required to procedurally close gaps and ensure the correct planning, oversight and management of DoD contractors supporting contingency operations, by updating the existing outdated policy. The existing policies are causing significant confusion, as they do not reflect current practices and legislative mandates. The inconsistencies between local Geographic Command guidance and the DoD-wide policies and the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations Supplement are confusing for those in the field--in particular, with regard to policy on accountability and visibility requirements. Given the sustained employment of a large number of contractors in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility; the importance of contractor oversight in support of the counter-insurgency operation in Afghanistan; and, the requirement to effectively manage contractors during the transition in Iraq, this issue has become so significant that DoD needs to revise the DoD-wide policies as a matter of urgency.