Date of Conferral

10-14-2026

Date of Award

October 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Scott Frampton

Abstract

This quantitative correlational study examined whether readability in Department of War (DoW) Requests for Proposals (RFPs) influences contract performance outcomes. The research employed the Flesch Reading Ease Scale (FRES), a standardized readability measure used within Department of War documentation, to assess 250 randomly selected and published RFPs issued in February 2023. The theoretical framework for this study was the Flesch Reading Ease Score, used as a baseline for clear writing style. The Flesch Reading Ease Score is a well-established readability test that measures the complexity of written material and its level of comprehension and content delivery. The purpose of this research was to determine whether higher readability scores were associated with contracted projects that were completed on time, within budget, and within scope. A multiple variable regression analysis indicated a modest but consistent positive correlation between higher FRES scores and improved project outcomes, particularly regarding budget adherence. Although the relationships were not statistically significant, the trends suggest that greater textual clarity supports comprehension, reduces ambiguity, and may enhance overall contract performance. Findings suggest that integrating readability evaluation into the DoW’s procurement process could strengthen communication, mitigate risk, and promote efficiency in federal contracting. This research contributes to the public administration, policy, and procurement literature by providing an empirical foundation for linking document clarity to project success, and offers practical implications for policy and process improvement.

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