Wednesday, July 18, 2007

POGO Releases Federal Contractor Misconduct Database

I just received the following press release from the Project On Government Oversight:

POGO announced today that it is releasing an improved and more user-friendly “Federal Contractor Misconduct Database” (FCMD) ( www.contractormisconduct.org ). For years, POGO has been scouring public sources to compile instances of misconduct involving the top 50 federal contractors to highlight how risky contractors continue to receive taxpayer funds.

The new database, which covers instances of misconduct from 1995 to the present, includes the source documents for each instance, drawing primarily from government documents. While the database is not exhaustive, POGO hopes that contracting officials will use it as a resource when awarding contracts to assure that taxpayer dollars are only being directed to responsible contractors.

In addition to the release of the FCMD, POGO’s general counsel, Scott Amey, will be testifying in front of the House Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement this afternoon. The hearing, titled “Federal Contracting: Do Poor Performers Keep Winning?”, aims to review flaws in the federal contracting system that allow contractors with poor performance records to continue to receive federal contracts.

Amey’s testimony will primarily focus on how contracting officers need to have information on contractors’ culture of responsibility more readily available in order to ensure that contract awards go to federal contractors. Without this information, major contracts continue to be awarded to risky contractors, as can be seen with the Army recently awarding the LOGCAP IV contract to Dyncorp (3), KBR (5 instances, listed under Halliburton), and Fluor (21)—some of which have questionable responsibility histories that include: false claims against the government, violations of the Anti-Kickback Act, fraud, conspiracy to launder money, retaliation against workers’ complaints, and environmental violations.

Legislation proposed by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) (the Contractors and Federal Spending Accountability Act of 2007 – H.R. 3033), which mandates that the government create a contractor performance and responsibility database, could help to ensure that taxpayer dollars are only going to responsible contractors. The testimony, available below, also highlights how incidences of contractor misconduct have changed over time as a result of changes in the acquisition system.

The hearing will be held on July 18, 2007, at 2:00 pm in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building.

Founded in 1981, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is an independent nonprofit that investigates and exposes corruption and other misconduct in order to achieve a more accountable federal government.


Damage control specialists, start your engines.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Coincidentally, I worked on POGO's Contractor Misconduct database. Very interesting project. It's also funny that you mentioned that project and my new blog. Thanks for the reference!