Standardization of oversight for continuous service
provision contracts in a federal educational institution.
Name: JOÃO PAULO SANTOS
Publication date: 01/07/2025
Examining board:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| ADRIANA FIOROTTI CAMPOS | Presidente |
| JOILSON DE ASSIS CABRAL | Examinador Externo |
| THALMO DE PAIVA COELHO JUNIOR | Examinador Interno |
Summary: The oversight of continuous service contracts is an activity of
utmost importance for public agencies, as it ensures the quality of services
delivered and compliance with the contractual terms, thereby safeguarding the
public interest. The significant growth in the outsourcing of service provision has
led public managers to place greater emphasis on contract oversight, with the
aim of ensuring legal certainty, efficiency, and accountability. However, further
efforts are still required to make such oversight more efficient and effective.
Problem: In this context, evidence was found suggesting a lack of
standardization in the oversight of continuous service contracts at the Reference
Center for Training and Distance Education (CEFOR, in portuguese) and the
Rectory of the Federal Institute of Education, Science, and Technology of Espírito
Santo (IFES, in portuguese), as observed in other educational institutions.
Therefore, the main objective was to analyze the oversight of these continuous
service contracts, under the regime of exclusive labor dedication, in these units,
in order to assess the existing level of standardization. As a theoretical
foundation, a literature review was conducted encompassing, in addition to the
legal framework and empirical studies, both national and international literature
aligned with the research topic and the evolution of administrative models, with
emphasis on the paradigms of New Public Management (NPM). Methods and
procedures: The research adopted a qualitative-quantitative approach, applied
in nature, with a theoretical-empirical methodology, exploratory and explanatory
objectives, and the use of both primary and secondary sources for data collection.
In addition to the literature review, documentary research was conducted,
analyzing institutional documents and contract oversight manuals, along with
semi-structured interviews, examined based on Bardin’s (2016) content analysis
method. The findings confirmed the research assumption – namely, the lack of
uniformity in contract oversight in the surveyed units – by revealing, among other
aspects, noncompliance with current legislation, weaknesses in guidance and
support instruments, gaps in inspector training, and deficiencies in institutional
communication. Based on these findings, a technical/technological product
was developed: a contract oversight guide entitled Shall we inspect? Acting
with safety and efficiency in contract oversight. This updated and robust
guide aims to standardize the work of contract inspectors, promoting legal
certainty, effectiveness, and accountability, as well as strengthening contract
governance in alignment with the public interest.
