Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center

Examining and dispelling common misconceptions about suspension and debarment

By

Contractors are well aware that being suspended or debarred renders them ineligible for federal contracts and subcontracts.  Many contractors may believe that suspension and debarment are not realistic risks for them if they already have a robust ethics and compliance program or strong internal controls.  Nevertheless, the risk of suspension and debarment can crop up suddenly and unexpectedly, such as when misconduct has been concealed or errors have gone undetected.  For this reason, contractors should have a baseline understanding about what to do if they must engage with a Suspending and Debarring Official (“SDO”).  This post explores ten common misconceptions about suspension and debarment, with the aim of helping contractors understand the landscape and respond effectively.

Continue reading at:  Government Contracts Navigator

Debunking 10 common myths about suspension and debarment

By

Contractors generally understand that suspension and debarment carry serious consequences, most significantly, the ineligibility to receive federal contracts.

Nevertheless, several misconceptions about suspension and debarment persist in the contractor community.

See the ten most frequently encountered misconceptions, along with insight to help contractors successfully navigate this treacherous landscape here: http://www.mondaq.com/article.asp?articleid=760670

 

Slight decrease in FY17 suspensions and debarments, but contractors should take note of the continued high level of activity

By

On July 31, 2018, the Interagency Suspension and Debarment Committee delivered its annual report to Congress on the status of the suspension and debarment system. The report shows a continued high level of activity relative to the last decade and serves as a reminder that exclusion from the federal marketplace continues to be a risk for contractors that do not “cut square corners” with the government.

The FY2017 report shows a modest decrease in the number of suspensions, proposed debarments, and debarments from the last fiscal year, a trend that has continued since the high-water mark set in FY2014.

But it also notes that the number of exclusions in FY17, over 3,000, are almost double those reported when the Committee first began formally tracking the data in FY09, approximately 1,800.

The decline in the total number of suspensions, debarments, and proposed debarments should not be viewed as an indication that suspension and debarment officials (SDOs) across the government are not vigilant or that they are not taking appropriate action when unethical individuals or contractors pose a threat to the public interest. Rather, it is likely that growing proactive engagement by contractors with SDOs even in the absence of lapses has decreased the need to suspend or debar contractors when problems do occur by ensuring that SDOs understand those companies’ commitment to ethics and compliance and that appropriate remedial actions are taken promptly where there is cause to question whether a company should be permitted to continue contracting with the government.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.mondaq.com/article.asp?articleid=742270

Defense agencies continue awarding contracts to suspended firms, report finds

By

At least nine major contractors, working primarily for defense-related agencies, have benefited from waivers under a 1981 law that allows federal officials to override the firms’ suspensions for such misconduct as fraud, bribery and theft.

That’s according to a new study of 22 contract decisions released this week by Bloomberg Government. Using a Freedom of Information Act request filed with the General Services Administration, the publication also found that some agencies had failed to forward the required documentation on the waivers to GSA.

Such household names as IBM, BP and Boeing have benefited from the law, wrote reporter Sam Skolnik.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.govexec.com/contracting/2018/08/defense-agencies-continue-awarding-contracts-suspended-firms-report-finds/150424

4 ways to avoid suspension or debarment on federal contracts

By

The U.S. government appropriated $120 billion for federal construction spending in 2017, covering a range of projects from the construction of a new Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters to building agricultural research facilities, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. President Donald Trump’s 2018 budget proposal, even with its cuts to key federal spending programs and new funds for a U.S.–Mexico border wall, calls for roughly the same level of investment.

Because of the potential for a big payoff, some companies have elected to become experts in the federal contracting field, making it the focal point of their business plans. Other contractors, like international design, engineering and construction firm AECOM, have set up specialized business units to take advantage of government contracting opportunities.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.constructiondive.com/news/the-dotted-line-4-ways-to-avoid-suspension-or-debarment-on-federal-contrac/448789/

 

These are nervous times for contractors

By

US DoD logoSpeaking to a room of government contractors recently, Defense Department officials insisted that there is no witch-hunt.

Contrary to industry perception, government overseers are not hammers looking for nails, said Deputy General Counsel for Contractor Responsibility at the Department of the Air Force, Rodney A. Grandon.

Grandon made a case that contractor policing is changing. The emphasis is not on trying to rack up the numbers of suspensions and debarments, he said, but on working preemptively with companies to make sure they have vigorous ethics and compliance programs.

“The focus today is no longer on numbers. The focus today is on contractor responsibility,” he told a federal procurement conference last month in McLean, Virginia, organized by the consulting firm BDO USA.

It is a fact of life that misconduct will occur, so the government is paying more attention to what companies are doing to prevent and respond in such situations, said Grandon. He commended federal contractors that have “invested in very robust advocacy and compliance programs.” The government counts on companies to self-police, he said. “Contractors must have in place procedures and willingness to engage government to take immediate steps when misconduct occurs. Our role is to buy down the risk for our acquisition community so they don’t have to worry that the contractor they’re dealing with has a lack of integrity or past performance problems.”

Keep reading this article at: http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/blog/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=2172

SBA: White House focus, SES visibility help agencies meet small business goals

By

The government’s success in meeting mandatory small business contracting goals two years running is due largely to White House focus and new requirements that program managers in the Senior Executive Service pay greater attention to the acquisition process, the Obama administration’s small-business development chief said on Tuesday.

SBA logo smallMany call set-asides for small business “not a handout but a hand-up, but I say it’s a matter of survival for the federal government as a whole,” said John Shoraka, associate administrator of government contracting and business development at the Small Business Administration (SBA). He spoke to contractors gathered for American Express OPEN’s all-day summit with agency acquisition officials working with small businesses that are women- or minority owned or economically disadvantaged.

Outlining the government’s efforts to institutionalize the success of meeting the goal of steering 23 percent of contract dollars to small business, Shoraka said, “I’ve told my staff I could write a book saying that America’s secret weapon is small business procurement — when small business is engaged, the industrial base is preserved. It’s win-win, because companies hire employees, which has impact on the economy.”

Keep reading this article at: http://www.govexec.com/contracting/2015/08/white-house-focus-ses-visibility-help-agencies-meet-small-business-goals/119043

Contractor alert: Suspensions and debarments keep climbing

By

The 2014 numbers are in – and they confirm that Federal marketplace remains volatile for government contractors.

Suspensions - FY 2010-2014

Debarments - FY2010-2014

According to the Interagency Suspension and Debarment Committee (ISDC), Federal agencies saw an uptick of about 14% in suspension and debarment proceedings.  Such exclusion proceedings remain among the chief tactics for combating alleged instances of fraud and misconduct in government contracting.  Overall, the ISDC reports that debarment actions rose from 1,696 in 2013 to 1,929 debarment actions in 2014.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.mondaq.com/article.asp?articleid=388574

GAO doubles down on FedBid ruling

By

The GAO has sustained a second protest based upon FedBid’s suspension of a contractor from its system.

For the second time in less than one week, the GAO held that the contractor’s suspension from FedBid–and resulting inability to bid on a contract–was improper because the matter was not referred to the SBA under the SBA’s Certificate of Competency procedures.

GAO-GovernmentAccountabilityOffice-SealThe GAO’s decision in Latvian Connection, LLC, B-410981 (April 6, 2015) involved a Department of the Interior RFQ for the fabrication and installation of mobile shelving system components.  The procurement was conducted through FedBid’s electronic reverse auction system.

Latvian Connection, LLC, wished to compete for the award.  However, in July 2014, FedBid suspended Latvian Connection’s FedBid user account.  The FedBid suspension notice stated, in part: “System and Business Integrity: Latvian Connection has taken actions to repeatedly and purposely interfere with FedBid’s business relationships.”

Since Latvian Connection’s FedBid account was suspended, it was unable to compete for the procurement.  Latvian Connection filed a GAO protest.  It argued, in part, that its exclusion from the competition was a negative responsibility determination, which should have been referred to the SBA.

Keep reading this article at: http://smallgovcon.com/gaobidprotests/gao-doubles-down-on-fedbidcoc-ruling/

GAO: Small business FedBid suspension was improper

By

The suspension of a small business’s FedBid account was improper because the matter was not referred to the SBA under the SBA’s certificate of competency procedures.

In an important decision for small businesses participating in reverse auctions, the GAO recently held that FedBid could not properly suspend a small business’s user account for a supposed lack of “business integrity,” thereby causing the small business to be ineligible to bid on a federal solicitation, without a referral to the SBA.

The GAO’s decision in Latvian Connection, LLC, B-410947 (Mar. 31, 2015) involved a Department of State solicitation for first aid kits and related medical supplies.  DOS conducted the solicitation as a reverse auction on FedBed.  The solicitation was set aside for small businesses.

Latvian Connection, LLC, wished to compete for the award.  However, in July 2014, FedBid suspended Latvian Connection’s FedBid user account.  The FedBid suspension notice stated, in part: “System and Business Integrity: Latvian Connection has taken actions to repeatedly and purposely interfere with FedBid’s business relationships.”

Keep reading this article at: http://smallgovcon.com/gaobidprotests/small-businesss-fedbid-suspension-was-improper-says-gao/

Contracting News

Read More

Contracting Tips

Read More

GTPAC News

Read More

Georgia Tech News

Read More