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Competition in Federal Contracting
Related Resources (government documents and letters)
POGO Files
Testimony of POGO's Scott Amey on “Acquisition Deficiencies at the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs”
December 16, 2009
National Transportation Program Benefits Contractor at the Expense of the Traveling Public, USDOT IG Finds
December 14, 2009
Say 'NYET!' to Mergers
April 28, 2008
GAO Confirms That Bajagua Project Is A Stinky Deal
April 25, 2008
POGO supports limiting length of noncompetitive contracts in “unusual and compelling urgency” circumstances Genuine competition in contracting is essential in getting the best supplies and services and protecting the public. POGO supports the government's effort to limit the use of limited competition or sole source contracting methods that are prone to abuse.
March 31, 2008
POGO urges Department of Transportation investigation into Traffic Information Contract Competition in contracting is essential to getting fair and reasonable costs and prices for goods and services. The Department of Transportation's "Transportation Technology Innovation and Demonstration" (TTID) program, to provide real-time traffic information to travelers, highlights a contract that deserves more federal oversight.
October 15, 2007
POGO urges Congress to review Hamilton Sundstrand's 9-year no-bid commercial item spare parts contract
November 27, 2006
POGO urges Congress to review Hamilton Sundstrand’s 9-year no-bid commercial item spare parts contract
November 27, 2006
POGO pushes for detailed guidance on contracting
September 5, 2006
POGO Report Uncovers Bajagua’s Murky Deal
April 4, 2006
The Politics of Contracting: Bajagua's No-Bid Deal There is no reason for the U.S. government to avoid competition for ownership and operation of wastewater treatment plants, whether they are located in the U.S.or in other countries. However, Bajagua Project, LLC, has effectively utilized the standard avenues of influence – campaign contributions, the revolving door, and lobbying – to apply pressure on the company's behalf. As a result, a number of Members of Congress designed legislation to deliver a sole-source contract for the construction and operation of a wastewater treatment facility in Mexico. Going even further, some Members of Congress and current and former government employees went to bat for the company after the legislation passed, pressuring or lobbying several government agencies to move faster and actually award the contract to Bajagua.
March 31, 2006
POGO opposes the proposed joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin to form the United Launch Alliance
March 16, 2006
U.S. Strong Arms Mexican Government on Water Project: Political Influence Behind $600 Million No-Bid Contract
December 21, 2005
POGO letter to Commissioner Marin with the US Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission regarding a sole-source contract
December 20, 2005
Related Resources
Veterans Health Administration: Inadequate Controls over Miscellaneous Obligations Increase Risk over Procurement Transactions
Statement of Kay L. Daly, Director Financial Management and Assurance, Government Accountability Office, Report #GAO-10-307T
December 16, 2009
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program: Case Studies Show Fraud and Abuse Allowed Ineligible Firms to Obtain Millions of Dollars in Contracts
Statement of Gregory D. Kutz, Managing Director, Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report #GAO-10-306T
December 16, 2009
Transportation Technology Innovation and Demonstration Program (TTID)
Joseph W. Come, Assistant Inspector General for Surface and Maritime Program Audits, Federal Highway Administration, Report # MH-2010-030
December 8, 2009
DOT IG passes POGO’s letter to Audit Team
Calvin L. Scovel III, Inspector General, Department of Transportation
September 12, 2008
International Boundary and Water Commission: Two Alternatives for Improving Wastewater Treatment at the United States-Mexico Border
, Government Accountability Office, GAO-08-595R
April 24, 2008
Air Force response to IG report
News Release, U.S. Air Force
April 18, 2008
Senator Claire McCaskill to Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne regarding Gen. Moseley’s role in Thunderbirds contract
Senator Claire McCaskill, U.S. Senate
April 17, 2008
FOIA Document: Investigation Report of Gen. Stephen Goldfein' s "improper influence" on Thunderbirds Contract, report dated January 30, 2008
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April 17, 2008
Federal Highway Administration response to POGO’s call for adequate competition in traffic information program.
J. Richard Capka, Administrator, Federal Highway Administration
December 7, 2007
Alaska Native Corporations; Increased Use of Special 8(a) Provisions Calls for Tailored Oversight
Testimony by David E. Cooper, Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management, Government Accountability Office (GAO-06-874T)
June 21, 2006
Contract Management; Increased Use of Alaska Native Corporations' Special 8(a) Provisions Calls for Tailored Oversight
, Government Accountability Office (GAO-06-399)
April 1, 2006
Draft GAO Report on Contract Management
, Government Accountability Office (GAO)
March 1, 2006
Noncompetitive Federal Contracts Increase Under the Bush Administration
, Committee on Government Reform
May 1, 2004
Letter from International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) to Rep. "Duke" Cunningham
Debra J. Little, Acting Commissioner,
October 27, 2003
Letter from the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) to Rep. "Duke" Cunningham
Debra J. Little, Acting Commissioner, International Boundary and Water Commission United States and Mexico
September 22, 2003
Memorandum for GSA Acquisition Workforce Associates on Emergency Procurement Authority
David Drabkin,
May 28, 2003
Memorandum For ALMAJCOM/DRU/FOA (Contracting)
DARRYL A. SCOTT, Brig Gen, USAF, Department of the Air Force
October 5, 2001
POGO in the News
A Promise Broken on a vow to end no-bid contracts, By Wes Allison, PolitiFact.com; The St. Petersburg Times, January 6, 2010
U.S. System for Tracking Traffic Flow Is Faulted, By Eric Lipton, The New York Times, December 13, 2009
No-bid contracts mean higher costs under stimulus law, By Brett J. Blackledge, Associated Press, July 17, 2009
Firm's contract kerfuffle highlights stimulus doubts; Local company gets nod for federal Web site revamping, By Alan Brody, Southern Maryland Newspapers Online, July 15, 2009
Acquisition reform recommendations run the gamut, By Robert Brodsky, Government Executive, June 16, 2009
When suspending contractors, size - not action - matters, By Elise Castelli, Federal Times, March 2, 2009
Tough to handle, By Alice Lipowicz, Washington Technology, March 24, 2008
IG to investigate traffic data program, contract, By Mary Mosquera, Federal Computer Week, February 4, 2008
A Mission to Rebuild Reputations: Upcoming Deals to Test Reforms at Air Force, Boeing, By Dana Hedgpeth, Washington Post, January 17, 2008
Homeland Insecurity, By Rachael King, Businessweek.com, December 17, 2007
A Call for Competition: As No-Bid Deals Soar, House Panel Wants More Oversight, by Dana Hedgpeth, The Washington Post, June 28, 2007
No money specifically set for Bajagua project, by Mike Lee, San Diego Union-Tribune, February 6, 2007
Smell test: how politics influenced a big clean-up deal, by Scot J. Paltrow, Wall Street Journal, January 29, 2007
More competition sought for federal contracts, by Kent Hoover, Washington Business Journal, January 8, 2007
Federal government has been paying too much for goods and services, with Lisa Sylvester, CNN: Lou Dobbs Tonight, December 29, 2006
United Technologies Air Force parts award suspended, by Jon Steinman and Tony Capaccio, Bloomberg.com, December 21, 2006
UTC unit target of a watchdog, by Jon Steinman, Hartford Courant, November 29, 2006
Panel aims to increase competition for services contracts, by Jenny Mandel, Government Executive, July 25, 2006
Native firms lay out case for receiving no-bid deals, By Dan Joling, Associated Press, Anchorage Daily News, July 8, 2006
Alaska Native Firms Capitalize on No-Bid Deals, By Griff Witte, The Washington Post, April 12, 2006
Group examines Cheney's role in Bajagua pact , By Caitlin Rother, San Diego Union-Tribune, March 31, 2006
Boeing, Military Caught in C-17 Numbers Game: Thousands to Lose Jobs If Air Force Kills Plane, By Ameet Sachdev, Chicago Tribune, February 2, 2006
Smelling Money in Sewage: Area firm hopes to sign no-bid deal with U.S. agency to treat Tijuana region's polluted water, then recycle it, By Mike Lee and Terry Rodgers, San Diego Union-Tribune, November 13, 2005
No Bid Contracts & Shaw Group: Stuck in a Storm of Controversy, By Nicholas Varchaver, Fortune, October 17, 2005
Alaska Native Corporations Cash In on Contracting Edge, by Robert O'Harrow, Jr., and Scott Higham, Washington Post, November 25, 2004
