FOXNews.com - Obama Administration Steers Lucrative No-Bid Contract for Afghan Work to Dem Donor
Despite President Obama's long history of criticizing the Bush administration for "sweetheart deals" with favored contractors, the Obama administration this month awarded a $25 million federal contract for work in Afghanistan to a company owned by a Democratic campaign contributor without entertaining competitive bids, Fox News has learned.
The contract, awarded on Jan. 4 to Checchi & Company Consulting, Inc., a Washington-based firm owned by economist and Democratic donor Vincent V. Checchi, will pay the firm $24,673,427 to provide "rule of law stabilization services" in war-torn Afghanistan.
"That's kind of weird," said another source, who has worked on "rule of law" issues in both Afghanistan and Iraq, about the no-bid contract to Checchi & Company. "There's lots of companies and non-governmental organizations that do this sort of work."
"I think the administration should explain what the decision was based on, and why a no-bid contract was given in this case, particularly given that Mr. Obama came in on a pledge of 'no more no-bid contracts,'" said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
Less than a year ago President Obama ordered an overhaul of the way the US government awards defense and other contracts, saying that more competition is needed to drive down costs and declaring that "the days of giving government contractors a blank check are over."
Obama joined Senator John McCain, his Republican presidential campaign rival, and other congressional figures to promise taxpayers savings of as much as $40 billion a year, in part by limiting no-bid contracts.
Even in good economic times, contracting reform would be overdue in Washington, Obama said, but with the recession, "It's time for this waste and inefficiency to end. It's time for a government that only invests in what works."
The new administration argued that its Republican predecessor's spending on goods and services increased from $200 billion in 2000 to more than $500 billion in 2008.
Just another lie.
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Technorati Tags: Obama, Contracts
Obama on no-bid contracts
Despite President Obama's long history of criticizing the Bush administration for "sweetheart deals" with favored contractors, the Obama administration this month awarded a $25 million federal contract for work in Afghanistan to a company owned by a Democratic campaign contributor without entertaining competitive bids, Fox News has learned.
The contract, awarded on Jan. 4 to Checchi & Company Consulting, Inc., a Washington-based firm owned by economist and Democratic donor Vincent V. Checchi, will pay the firm $24,673,427 to provide "rule of law stabilization services" in war-torn Afghanistan.
"That's kind of weird," said another source, who has worked on "rule of law" issues in both Afghanistan and Iraq, about the no-bid contract to Checchi & Company. "There's lots of companies and non-governmental organizations that do this sort of work."
"I think the administration should explain what the decision was based on, and why a no-bid contract was given in this case, particularly given that Mr. Obama came in on a pledge of 'no more no-bid contracts,'" said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
Obama promises
Less than a year ago President Obama ordered an overhaul of the way the US government awards defense and other contracts, saying that more competition is needed to drive down costs and declaring that "the days of giving government contractors a blank check are over."
Obama joined Senator John McCain, his Republican presidential campaign rival, and other congressional figures to promise taxpayers savings of as much as $40 billion a year, in part by limiting no-bid contracts.
Even in good economic times, contracting reform would be overdue in Washington, Obama said, but with the recession, "It's time for this waste and inefficiency to end. It's time for a government that only invests in what works."
The new administration argued that its Republican predecessor's spending on goods and services increased from $200 billion in 2000 to more than $500 billion in 2008.
Just another lie.
More post from wag This Dog
Polls show public wary of Deficit and Obama's Economic intervention
Barack Obama asked his Cabinet to save $100 million over time
Barack Obama knew AIG could pay Bonuses before Executives took them
Share this post, Email a friend, Leave a comment, Subscribe to Wag This Dog, Link to any post.
Technorati Tags: Obama, Contracts
Obama on no-bid contracts
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