Glossary of Defense Contracting Terms (T)

This Glossary provides you with the most frequently used terms in government and military base contracting. Familiarity with the language of government contracting is essential for doing business with the Department of Defense (DoD) and working with contracting offices at military bases and DoD agencies.  You may also find it helpful to use our master list of Acronyms frequently used in DoD contracting.

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View ACRONYMS used in Defense Contracting

 

TARGET COST     The estimated cost of a contract as initially negotiated, adjusted for any change in contract requirements.

TASK ORDER    An order for services placed against an established contract or with government sources.

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS   Review by personnel having specialized knowledge, skills, experience, or capability in engineering, science, or management of the proposed types and quantities of materials, labor, processes, special tooling, facilities, the reasonableness of scrap and spoilage, and other factors set forth in the proposals) in order to determine the need for and reasonableness of the proposed resources, assuming reasonable economy and efficiency.

TIME AND MATERIALS CONTRACT   A contract providing for the procurement of supplies/services on the basis of direct labor hours at specified fixed hourly rates and material at cost or at some bid percentage discount from manufacturer's catalog or list prices.

TRADEOFF PROCESS    In a negotiated acquisition, a procedure that permits consideration of tradeoffs among cost or price and non-cost factors and allows the Government to accept other than the lowest priced proposal. The perceived benefits of the higher priced proposal must merit the additional cost and the rationale must for tradeoffs must be documented in the contract file.

TRIAL BALLOON   A tentative plan offered to test the reaction of a particular audience.  

 

Pentagon Spokesman Department of Defense (DoD)

Guidance for Doing Business with Military Bases