Operations and Support (O&S)

Operations and Support (O&S) includes all activities required to keep a system operational after it has been fielded or deployed, covering the personnel, maintenance, logistics, and sustainment functions needed to ensure continued mission performance throughout the system lifecycle.

What Is Operations and Support?

Operations and Support, commonly referred to as O&S, includes all activities required to keep a system operational after it has been fielded or deployed. It covers the personnel, maintenance, logistics, and sustainment functions needed to ensure continued mission performance throughout the system lifecycle.

O&S is the final phase of the acquisition lifecycle, following development, production, and deployment, and continues until the system is retired or replaced. In many defense programs, it represents the majority of total lifecycle cost.

Key Characteristics of O&S

Post-Deployment Phase: Occurs after system deployment or fielding, covering the entire operational life of the system until retirement.

Sustainment Activities: Includes maintenance, logistics, supply chain management, technical support, and software updates.

Readiness and Availability Focus: Focuses on maintaining system readiness, reliability, and availability to meet operational requirements.

Training and Personnel Support: Encompasses operator training, technical documentation, and workforce development needed to sustain mission capability.

Lifecycle Cost Driver: Represents the longest and often most expensive acquisition lifecycle phase, requiring early planning and cost estimation.

How O&S Works in Government Contracting

Step 1: Sustainment Planning During Acquisition

Agencies are required to plan for sustainment and lifecycle costs during early acquisition planning under FAR Part 7 and Part 34.

Department of Defense Instruction 5000.02 and Title 10 U.S. Code provisions mandate lifecycle cost planning and long-term sustainment strategies from program inception.

Step 2: Contract Award for O&S Services

Many solicitations focus specifically on sustainment, maintenance, and lifecycle support services following system delivery.

Federal agencies — especially the Department of Defense — rely on contractors to deliver O&S services, involving program managers, contracting officers, sustainment teams, and logistics personnel.

Step 3: Ongoing Performance and Sustainment

After a military aircraft is delivered, for example, contractors may provide spare parts, software updates, maintenance services, technical support, and operator training.

Contractors must meet performance metrics such as system availability rates, reliability targets, and response times throughout the O&S period.

Why O&S Matters in Government Contracting

For contractors, O&S represents significant strategic and financial value:

Provides stable, long-term revenue through sustainment and service agreements

Strengthens agency relationships and positions contractors for follow-on work

Supports competitive positioning through strong past performance records

Creates opportunities for system upgrades and technology refresh contracts

Poor sustainment planning can lead to cost overruns, readiness gaps, contract penalties, and performance evaluations that negatively affect future awards.

O&S is not limited to technical maintenance — it includes operations, logistics, training, and full lifecycle management across the system's operational life.

Common Misconceptions About O&S

O&S is limited to technical maintenance.

O&S includes operations, logistics, training, supply chain management, and full lifecycle management — not just technical repairs.

O&S ends shortly after deployment.

O&S continues for the entire operational life of the system, often spanning decades for major defense programs.

O&S is a minor cost element.

In many defense programs, O&S represents the majority of total lifecycle cost, far exceeding development and procurement costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between operations and support?

Operations involve day-to-day use of the system. Support includes maintenance, logistics, supply chain, and technical assistance required to sustain it.

Why is O&S often the most expensive lifecycle phase?

Because it spans many years and includes personnel, spare parts, upgrades, training, and infrastructure support across the system's entire operational life.

Is O&S planned during early acquisition stages?

Yes. Agencies are required to plan for sustainment and lifecycle costs during early acquisition planning under FAR Part 7 and DoD Instruction 5000.02.

Can contractors compete solely for O&S contracts?

Yes. Many solicitations focus specifically on sustainment, maintenance, and lifecycle support services following system fielding.