External support contracts are contracting authority external to the operational command. Which is an example of this type?

• A. LOGCAP
• B. Theater support contract
• C. Systems support contract
• D. Contractor management agreement

Answer: (A)

External support contracts involve contracting authority that sits outside the operational command, bringing in private or civilian providers to sustain operations without direct control by the theater commander. The best example is LOGCAP, a DoD program that awards a long-term logistics and life-support contract to a private firm to support deployed forces. The contract is managed by a central DoD contracting office and provides services across theaters, so the contractor operates outside the theater’s direct command structure rather than under its tactical control. This separation is the hallmark of external support contracts, illustrating how sustainment can be provided without the operational command directly commanding the contractor.