Should You Be Managing Contracts In-House? Here’s When to Outsource Instead.

By Rosita Johnson

At ASCI, we work with organizations across different commercial and government sectors that often face the same question: Should we manage contracting and procurement in-house, or is it time to outsource?

It is not a one-size-fits-all answer. The right move depends on your internal resources, contract volume, complexity, and risk tolerance. What we can tell you from experience is this – the cost of mismanaging procurement is often far higher than the cost of getting support. Here is the breakdown of when in-house makes sense, and when it is time to bring in expert help.

When to Keep Contracting and Procurement In-House

We are not in the business of fixing what is not broken. If your internal team is managing procurement and contracts efficiently, you may not need us – yet.

• You have experienced contracting or procurement staff. If your organization has people who understand the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), local procurement codes, and how to write and administer contracts, keep them close. That institutional knowledge is valuable.

• Your needs are consistent and predictable. If you are managing long-term, steady contracts with repeatable processes, your in-house team can likely maintain control without unnecessary overhead.

• You want full control over vendor relationships and strategy. When procurement decisions are tightly linked to your operations or service delivery, in-house teams can keep decision-making aligned with your core goals.

When to Outsource Contracting and Procurement Support

Here is where we come in. ASCI provides scalable, mission-aligned support when in-house teams hit capacity, lack experience, or need flexibility.

• You are growing quickly or entering a new market. Whether you are expanding operations, entering federal or state-level contracting for the first time, or responding to new funding streams, external support helps you scale without scrambling.

• Your internal team is overloaded. Delayed procurements, compliance errors, missed deadlines are all signs that your internal capacity is maxed out. We provide immediate relief and help your team get back on track.

• You need specialized knowledge. We live in the world of government contracting. From FAR and DFARS to state-specific procurement rules, we bring the expertise that most in-house teams only encounter occasionally.

• You are dealing with short-term or cyclical needs.Hiring full-time staff to handle seasonal spikes, task orders, or one-off project surges is not always cost-effective. We offer surge staffing and fractional support so you can stay lean and responsive.

• You are spending too much time on low-value admin. Our clients offload the repetitive, resource-draining tasks — quote gathering, invoice processing, vendor follow-up — so their internal staff can focus on mission-critical work.

Outsourcing Does Not Mean Giving Up Control

In some cases, the most effective approach is a hybrid model. Many of our clients retain strategic control in-house: identifying needs, setting priorities, and managing vendor relationships. They rely on us to handle execution, ensure compliance, and manage volume. You maintain visibility and control. We provide the tools, bandwidth, and expertise to keep things running smoothly.

If Contracting Feels Like a Bottleneck, It Probably Is

Delays, errors, and missed opportunities in procurement are more than administrative issues – they are operational risks. The right support partner can reduce those risks, improve efficiency, and free up your team to focus on what they do best.

If you are wondering whether now is the time to outsource your contracting and procurement support, let us help you figure it out.

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ASCI specializes in helping businesses like yours to address supply chain management challenges. Visit our website to learn more and to arrange for a free consultation.