ABSTRACT
Contract administration or project management software is useful for monitoring the contractor's progress on work elements, milestones, deliverables, and costs incurred to accomplish the elements being measured. The fact that the contract has been awarded when the contract administration phase of the contracting cycle begins does not eliminate the potential for unethical or criminal behavior while the contractor is engaged in fulfilling its responsibilities. Monitoring the contractor's performance with respect to its expenditure rate compared to its progress on contract tasks is appropriate for high-value or high-risk contracts. Contract modifications are made without the benefits afforded by competition. Contract amendments normally include a description of the contract modifications, describe any change in pricing, and address any impact on the schedule. The risk of program failure is the ultimate peril associated with a deficient contract administration program. Government contractors can generally benefit from implementation of all the contract administration practices recommended for government.
