The U.S. Government's practice of contracting translations to freelance translators complicates the task of maintaining quality control because freelance translators often do not have extensive reference works and dictionaries or access to other translators and subject field experts. Furthermore, when work is sent to freelance translators, government translators lose contact with the challenges involved in doing translations. This paper descibres how FBIS/JPRS attempts to bring government resources to its freelance translators (contractors) and resolve the problems inherent in contracting translation work.