IG says GSA chief may have broken ethics, contracting rules (GovExec)

[struggle4progress]

DAILY BRIEFING
April 26, 2007

By Jenny Mandel
[email protected]

General Services Administration chief Lurita Doan may have violated federal ethics and procurement rules when she awarded a contract to a friend, the agency's inspector general concluded in a recent investigation.

Investigators found that Doan signed a no-bid contract to pay $20,000 to Public Affairs Group Inc., a company headed by her longtime business associate and friend Edie Fraser. Doan has acknowledged that she tried to issue the contract but was stopped by GSA contract and legal experts, who let her know that the award would be improper.

"Doan's conduct in this matter may indicate possible violations of federal ethics regulations for failing to act impartially and creating the appearance of providing preferential treatment," the report stated. "Her conduct also may indicate possible violations of federal procurement regulations requiring competition in the award of contracts."

In the report, the IG office concluded that Doan bound the agency to pay the contract when she signed a two-page document that concluded, "By signing this Confirmation of Service Order, you agree to pay our fee for the services described above within thirty (30) days of receiving an invoice(s)." ~snip~

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=36728&dcn=todaysnews