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Buying Results Through Service Level Agreements: Best Practices in Performance- Based Acquisition. Breakout Session # 1411 Robert F. Watts, Senior Consultant, ESI International Date: April 16 Time: 2:40 – 3:40 PM. Performance Based Acquisition -- Still a Challenge.
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Buying Results Through Service Level Agreements: Best Practices in Performance- Based Acquisition Breakout Session # 1411 Robert F. Watts, Senior Consultant, ESI International Date: April 16 Time: 2:40 – 3:40 PM
Performance Based Acquisition -- Still a Challenge • Recent Acquisition Advisory Panel study determined that more than half the contracts designated as PBA in the Federal Procurement Data System-Next Generation were not performance-based
Performance Work Statement or SOO Incentive Plan Performance Requirements Summary PBA Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan
What is a Service Level Agreement (SLA)? • A performance-based technique where a written agreement is established between the customer and service provider that defines key service objectives, metrics, and acceptable quality levels (AQLs) • Primarily used in information technology (IT) procurements • Expanding into other sustainment-type services
Example SLA Outline Equivalent to PWS/SOO and Performance Requirements Summary • Service Level Agreement • (Title of Agreement) • 1.0 Introduction • 1.1 Statement of Need • 1.2 Background • 2.0 Service Objectives • 4.0 Service Level Metrics/AQLs • 3.0 Applicable Directives • 3.1 Compliance • 3.2 Reference • 4.0 Constraints and Assumptions • 5.0 Data Deliverables • 6.0 Government Furnished Property (GFP)
Service Objectives Example Do what? Provide, implement, operate and maintain a fully-functional, reliable Service Desk… Service Desk ….for successfully recording, triaging, troubleshooting and resolving/ redirecting customer support requirements and ensuring minimum user downtime. To accomplish what?
What is the QASP? • An internal plan used by the customer that describes the performance monitoring methods they will use to evaluate the contractor’s progress and success in meeting service level metrics and AQLs contained in the SLA
Some Techniques to Monitor Contractor Performance Example Performance Monitoring Approaches 100% inspection Random sampling Automated Reporting Customer surveys On-site spot checks
Incentive Plan • Rewards and/or penalties assessed against the contractor based on their success in achieving service level metrics and AQLs in the SLA
Some Best Practices in Developing SLAs • Keep it simple! • Look at the overall mission and develop a small set of key service level metrics—find things that are measurable, meaningful and have real impact on the bottom line • Stay focused on mission success and customer satisfaction • Leave measuring of activities and processes to the contractor • Manage AQL expectations – be realistic • The closer to 100% perfection you require, then the higher the price -- be practical and realistic • Performance standards cannot exist in a vacuum; there must be a forum for discussion and negotiation
Case Study Chicago adjusts on the fly to make its contract perform