I'm hoping that maybe one of our U.S. military XMTS members can field this question... If you're actively in the service or a recent veteran, any help would be much appreciated. (If you're not .mil but still definitely know the answers to my questions, your input is quite welcome too).

I'm currently working on an MBA and I'm writing a paper for my Business Law course. I need to examine the systems that are in place governing defense contracts as they relate to cost and quality assurance.

I think I have a good foundation of info, but there are a few things that I'm still unclear on (maybe because I'm Canadian -- not American) but this shouldn't be too hard to answer...

Specifically, what is the relationship between the DCMA and the DLA? I know that DCMA oversees the contract management and reports to the Undersecretary of Defense (Aquisition, Technology and Logistics) whereas the DLA takes care of the actual purchasing (and stockpiling) and report to the Undersecretary of Defense (Logistics & Material Readiness). I also know that the DLA Director also sits on the Board of Directors for the DCMA...

What I DON'T know is -- a) why the DLA and DCMA are separate agencies and b) what interactions they have between each other, and how the chain of command is structured so that if there are problems or issues regarding cost or quality for any given product (provided by a specific contractor), how these issues are addressed, and how solutions move up through the hierarchy.

Also, please note: I am only looking for serious, qualified answers in this thread. If you don't know what I'm talking about, have a funny remark, want to tell a story (unless it's directly related to my questions), I kindly ask that you courteously refrain from posting.


Please & thank you!

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