The Departments of Defense (DoD) and State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have relied extensively on contractors to provide a range of services in Iraq and Afghanistan, but the agencies have faced challenges in obtaining sufficient information to plan and manage their use of contractors. This report analyzed DoD, State, and USAID data for Iraq and Afghanistan for FY 2008 and the first half of FY 2009 on the: (1) status of agency efforts to track information on contracts and contractor personnel; (2) number of contractor personnel; (3) number of killed and wounded contractors; and (4) number and value of contracts and the extent to which they were awarded competitively. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.

The DoD and State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have relied extensively on contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan, including using contractors to help administer other contracts or grants. Relying on contractors to perform such functions can provide benefits but also introduces potential risks, such as conflicts of interest, that should be considered and managed. This report reviewed: (1) the extent to which DoD, State, and USAID rely on contractors to perform contract and grant administration in Iraq and Afghanistan; (2) the reasons behind decisions to use such contractors and whether the decisions are guided by strategic workforce planning; and (3) whether agencies considered and mitigated related risks. Illus.