Thompson Calls for More Stringent Oversight Over Procurement of Gulf Coast Contracts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Today, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, Ranking Member of the Committee of Homeland Security issued the following statement in response the findings of a report by the General Accountability Office (GAO) on the Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) contract for Mississippi Classrooms.
GAO found that the Corps accepted Akima’s Site Operation, LLC’s proposal of $39.5 million to purchase temporary classrooms although the Corps was aware that cost for the classrooms was far less than Akima was charging. GAO concluded that the Corps could have, but failed to negotiate a lower price.
Thompson said:
“While I understand that in times of emergency decisions must be made quickly, however fiscal responsibility cannot be tossed aside when making these decisions. The Corps did not abide by this principal. Hiring an out of state company at a price well over the cost of the actual project only hinders our progress. The only way to truly rebuild and revive the economy of the Gulf Coast is to comply with current law and give priority to local and small business. It is clear that more stringent oversight of these contracts is needed to protect the American taxpayer while ensuring that the people of the Gulf Coast region have a fair chance to compete.”
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Please contact Dena Graziano at (202) 226-2616
