The Challenges of Contracting and Accountability Across the Federal System: From Ambulances to Space Shuttles

Jocelyn M. Johnston, Barbara S. Romzek and Curtis H. Wood

Publius: The Journal of Federalism, 2004, vol. 34, issue 3, 155-182

Abstract: This article focuses on two questions related lo government contracting and accountability. How are key components of contracting similar or different for city, state, and federal governments in the United States? To what extent do the three levels of government share the widely recognized challenges of contract design and contract management? To address these questions, we compared and contrasted six contracting cases, two each for local, state, and the federal governments. We found that for all governments in the U.S. federal system, the public management functions of contracting are remarkably similar, and that contract management and the achievement of accountability are “weak links” in the contracting process. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that contract management is more effective in local government relative to state and federal governments. Copyright 2004, Oxford University Press.

Date: 2004
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