Defense Primer: Department of Defense Contractors (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised June 6, 2024 |
| Report Number |
IF10600 |
| Report Type |
In Focus |
| Authors |
Russell Rumbaugh; Heidi M. Peters |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
Throughout its history, the Department of Defense (DOD)
has relied on contractors.
A defense contractor, as defined by the Code of Federal
Regulations, is “any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership, association, or other legal non-Federal entity
that enters into a contract directly with the DOD to furnish
services, supplies, or construction” (see 32 C.F.R. 158.3,
“Definitions”).
Within the defense policy community, the term contractor
is commonly used in two different contexts. The word can
describe the private companies with which DOD contracts
to provide goods and services. It can also describe
individuals hired by DOD—usually through private
companies, which are also considered contractors in the
previous context—to perform specific tasks. The term
“contractor” does not refer to military servicemembers,
DOD career employees, or political appointees.
