Cohen (public administration and environmental science and policy, Columbia U.) and Eimecke (deputy commissioner, Fire Department of New York City) have written this guide to best practices of contract management for public management personnel who wish to reduce costs and improve quality within government agencies. The authors cover the basics of writing contract requirements, evaluating bids and measuring the overall performance of outsourced services, explaining how network management practices are the key to effective public-private partnerships. Case studies are used to illustrate when contract management works (the Welfare-to-Work program in Philadelphia) and when it doesn't (the United States military in Iraq). Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)