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They may not be on the battlefield, but they are on the frontlines. Every day, hundreds of government representatives in the KMC work with contractors to ensure quality delivery of services to the government.
Contractors provide a wide variety of services in support of the military’s varied missions. The recent trend has been to outsource more and more support functions to contractors. This enables military members to focus on their primary role as warfighters.
Large Air Force service contracts rely on specially-trained individuals known as quality assurance personnel.
“QAPs are the eyes and ears of the government,” said Lt. Col. Julian Thrash, 700th Contracting Squadron commander. “QAPs inspect contractor services to ensure compliance with our contracts. They make sure we receive the quality services we are paying for.”
In the KMC, contractors perform a wide variety of services such as custodial work, grounds care, contingency cook services, guard services, equipment maintenance, military family housing maintenance, communications support, network support, aircrew training and electronic warfare support.
Contractors are responsible for their own quality control, but regulations require government quality assurance be conducted prior to acceptance of contract services. The contracting squadron manages the QA program in the KMC to train QAPs in their craft and facilitate performance management for large service contracts.
The QA program at 700th CONS is the largest in U.S. Air Forces in Europe. It provides training support for 90 contracts, with total life cycle costs of $800 million. The workforce to support these contracts requires 240 QAPs. Most QAPs are located in the KMC, but some extend into other parts of Europe.
Individuals selected as QAPs must be knowledgeable in their area of expertise. QAPs work closely with contractors and the contracting office as they interface with day-to-day contract operations.
QAPs use a variety of techniques to perform QA. The QAP tool belt includes such approaches as periodic surveillance of delivered services, review of contractor performance metrics and resolution of customer complaints.
“QA is not one-size-fits-all because of the wide variety of contract services,” said Maj. Sean Williams, base support flight commander. “The QA approach for a laundry and dry cleaning contract will be somewhat different than one for intelligence support.”
QAPs must be trained and appointed in writing by a contracting officer prior to performing QAP duties. For legal reasons, only a contracting officer has authority to award or modify contracts on behalf of the government.
Personnel risk liability and administrative measures if they request, direct or cause contractor performance outside the scope of existing contracts, but QAPs are delegated specific authorities to assist the contracting officer by providing insight into contract performance.
“The QAP role of evaluating and documenting contractor performance is pivotal in assuring the mission is accomplished and the government receives the services it pays for,” said Kyle Roberts, supervisory contract specialist in the specialized contracting flight.
The QAP may not be on a battlefield, but in the realm of government contracts, every QAP is on the frontlines.
