PREFACE

As stewards of the taxpayers’ money, federal managers are responsible for conceiving the full scope of the government’s needs in advance of a contract. Tightly drafted specifications produce efficient, effective results; loosely drawn specifications can set a program back significantly. The statement of work (SOW) is the vehicle used to define this scope.

The specifications of the work described in the SOW often become the heart of the request for proposals (RFP), offerors’ proposals, and the final contract. A description of the work specifies exactly what is being purchased, including its quality, requirements, and quantity, as well as a schedule for its delivery. The SOW also defines the relationship between the government and the contractor, describing who will do what and the standards by which the government will measure a contractor’s compliance with the job requirements.

This volume of The Government Manager’s Essential Library offers practical guidance on writing and preparing a description of government requirements, whether the document used is an SOW, a performance work statement (PWS), or a statement of objectives (SOO). Chapter 1 provides an overview of the SOW, discussing the need for a clear and concise SOW and highlighting the benefits of SOWs. Chapter 2 addresses the format and content of the solicitation and contract and discusses the relationship of the SOW to the RFP. Chapter 3 focuses on issues that must be considered when planning and developing an SOW, including choosing the SOW type and distinguishing between level-of-effort and completion SOWs.

Chapter 4 covers the SOW format, addressing what information is appropriate to include in an SOW, where the information goes in the SOW, and why, as well as the use of SOWs in sealed bidding. Chapter 5 discusses performance-based service contracting, focusing on developing a PWS, conducting a job analysis, developing a quality assurance plan, and offering incentives. Chapter 6 discusses the use of an SOO in service contracting.

Chapter 7 identifies common problems in writing SOWs and provides guidelines for writing a quality SOW. Chapter 8 offers insights into why change management is important and discusses Standard Form 30 to provide perspective on how the change order is used in the federal government.

I sincerely hope that the concepts and techniques described in this book will make managing your contracts and programs more successful, and thus make your professional life as a government manager just a little bit easier.

—Michael G. Martin, PMP