Economy and Infrastructure Sector Research Paper

Economy and Infrastructure Sector - Research Paper Example The hosts of regulatory bodies like Security Exchange Commission, Chicago Board of Trade Futures, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), The New York Stock Exchange, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and many others are part of the policy environment, which is responsible in allowing, regulating, and settling various financial transactions, without which we cannot think of existence of any present-day business activities. Importance of business and financial infrastructure can be gauged from the fact that federal government has identified the financial sector as part of its critical infrastructure protection (CIP) efforts. Numerous arrangements help protect customers as well as institutions. The depositors are protected by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in the event of a severe liquidity crisis or due to the failure of a bank. Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS) is available to all institutions during disruption of the primary communication links. It is possible that we may encounter totally unknown calamity whether manmade or natural of totally different dimensions and depth and then it will be a real litmus test for all our thought process and strategic preparedness and final assessment from the fact that how we come out of it unscathed. The economy of any country rests and thrives on its infrastructure setup. Finance and business infrastructures are the primary necessities through that economy of the country throbs and elevate to the new levels in terms of Gross Domestic Product of the country. When the  U.S. was under the grip of great depression during the thirties and unemployment was rampant, then the new president-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt spearheaded the country through a host of infrastructure projects in terms of roads and buildings, bridges and hydroelectric dams, electrification and irrigation projects. This helped reduce the high unemployment rate and increased business activities manifold. After the necessary pause during the World War II, activities again got momentum to create large-scale interstate highways, air and sea ports including many housing projects in private sectors.

CONTRACT COST CONSIDERATIONS Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

CONTRACT COST CONSIDERATIONS - Research Paper Example The three are firm-fixed price, cost-plus-fixed fee and cost-plus-incentive fee. Therefore, this paper will look at the advantages and disadvantages of these three contract pricing systems before outlining and discussing them in a specific NAICS case-study. Firms seeking contracts in different spheres of operations as classified by NAICS adopt different contracting or pricing schemes that are in line with their needs and capabilities and also by putting into considerations the needs of clients. In this way, it can be deduced that numerous factors, either in single or in multiple, influence the selection of the appropriate and most efficient pricing mechanisms in contract projects. However, in adopting an appropriate contract mechanism to employ, firms are always advised to take into account the responsibility of certain and specific risks that the projects might have. Three major contract pricing systems are used by contracting firms. The three include fixed price system, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and cost-plus-incentive fee. Therefore, discussion in this research paper will involve looking at the three contract pricing systems in terms of advantages and disadvantages and how they apply to a specific NAICS firm. The first contract pricing mechanism is the firm-fixed-price contract. This type of contract provides a price that in most cases is not subject to any change or adjustment (Stewart, Wyskida and Johannes, 1995). Favor for this type of contract has usually been based on the contractor’s experience in performing the contract. This type of contract provides maximum incentive for the contractor to have control over the costs and also be able to perform effectively. In such arrangement, there is always minimization of administrative burden on both the contracting parties. It has been found firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract is most favored by contractors keen on