IN ORDER FOR AMERICAN society to function properly, the government must provide its citizens with a variety of services that provide for their safety and security. For example, when a vacant lot full of leaking chemical drums and barrels is discovered in an area that threatens a public drinking water supply, site remediation may be required. Rather than employ a large number of public employees who would be tasked with mitigating a hazard of this magnitude, the government may select a private company to perform the necessary clean up. This private company, commonly referred to as a contractor, works under the authority of a government agency, and the supervision of an agency official.

The agency official responsible for overseeing the contractor's day-to-day activities is known as ...