Now it is Cronyism and Corruption

The assault on the federal procurement process continues.

The Center for American Progress, a progressive think tank, uses the words, "cronyism" and "corruption" as the headline of their press release about an "event" featuring Rep. Henry Waxman, the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee as its keynote speaker.

Both Federal Computer Week (FCW.com) and Government Executive (GovExec.com) reported on this event and neither one used those words. In fact, the text of the organization's release talked of Rep. Waxman's vision of increasing the size of the government acquisition workforce. The release says that,

He cited the need for more contract managers and government overseers and proposed that 1 percent of federal procurement spending be set aside for
procurement management and oversight.

That doesn't sound like everyone in the federal contracting profession are on the take. However, his remark that,

While government contractors are getting richer, taxpayers are getting soaked

sounds a little more inflammatory.

We must redouble our efforts, as federal contracting professionals to keep our eyes on the goal of being good stewards of the taxpayer's money and earning their continuing confidence on a daily basis.

Project on Government Oversight seeks allies with new Congress

This traditional adversary of government contracting is looking for allies within the newly elected congressional delgations.

Today, POGO wants Congress hold hearings on enforcing debarrments and suspensions (these are some of the same issues in the SARA report) while reducing the "revolving door" of military and government officials working for contractors.

Once again, following the policies and procedures that are already in place- and including effective contract administration- would eliminate many of the problems that POGO traditionally follows and reports to the Washington Post.

Bill targets wartime contracting fraud

Just another in the continuing saga of contracting in Iraq. Of course, increasing the visibility and priority on contract administration would fight this.

Procurement integrity put to the test- 144 years ago

President Ulysses S. Grant received a letter written to warn him about a scrupulous group of businessmen about to pay him an office call. The letter details the bid fixing plan and how the other members of the group would buy-out any other bidders.

He details contracts awarded to the highest (or a long way from lowest) bidder and other shenanigans.

Even (way) back in the "good old days..."

Effective contract administration methods

Much has been said about ensuring contractors properly perform on their contracts during the Iraq War. Check out how they improved contractor performance during the Civil War.

Keep a watchful eye- careful contract administration is still important

Every once in a while, it is good to remember that we are responsible for and entrusted to protect our nation's resources. The best way we can is to create business relationships based on sound, ethical practices.

This website is about those business relationships that contractors and sometimes government employees (there is even a contracting officer listed here) made that were not sound nor ethical.

Come back to this site occasionally to keep in mind the ways that others can commit procurement fraud and erode the trust that the rest of us have been trying to build through our actions day-to-day.

From before the blog: Size does matter

[Occasionally, I will resurrect something that I have found from the past and bring it to your attention.]

Cost for certifying as a small business as part of a GSA schedule proposal: $0
Cost for competitor to protest size certification: $.39
Cost for misrepresenting a large company as a small one: NOT Priceless- One million dollars!

Seriously, folks (I can't believe I said that)... There is a current controversy with large companies buying small companies and reaping small business contracting preferences. In fact, this fall, the Small Business Administration came up with new regulations to combat this issue.

Is that enough? Is that too much?

Interesting ethical reading

The DoD Office of General Counsel has an entertaining and ethically informative publication, called the Encyclopedia of Ethical Failure. It includes a lot of examples and explanations regarding the rules of proper ethical behavior.

It is amazing what some people will do with Uncle Sam's (and our) taxpayer money.

Government Purchase Card program needs regular oversight

This is a story of GPC misuse. Once again, someone is given the responsibility to do things faster, better, cheaper and only thought of themselves. Just remember, he will always be known as the guy who bought $682.50 in golf balls for $1,409 and may get 15 years in jail.

Note his creative writing skills. There will be quite a future for him as a jailhouse lawyer and author!

Crime still doesn't pay.