  The Dirac oscillators are shown to be an excellent expansion basis for
solutions of the Dirac equation by $R$-matrix techniques. The combination of
the Dirac oscillator and the $R$-matrix approach provides a convenient
formalism for reactions as well as bound state problems. The utility of the
$R$-matrix approach is demonstrated in relativistic impulse approximation
calculations where exchange terms can be calculated exactly, and scattering
waves made orthogonal to bound state wave functions.
