In findings that could be applied as well to other agencies and other occupations, an IG report warned that there are “tripwire” points in workloads for contracting officers at the Postal Service, beyond which the potential for problems increases sharply.
Of the 93 who responded to the IG’s request for workload data, 57 managed fewer than 100, 26 managed between 101 and 500, two managed between 501 and 1,000, and seven managed more than 1,000.
Managing an especially high number of contracts is one of the indicators of higher risk of problems such as not fully documenting changes to contracts, miscommunication with suppliers, and other breakdowns in the business relationship, the report said.
However, the number of contracts managed is not necessarily the best gauge of whether management is properly distributing the workload, it added, since contracts vary in type and complexity, and support staff is greater for some. Further, more experienced officers are better able to manage more contracts, it said.
