September 12, 2008

Seven companies notified of potential debarment for unlawful employment practices

WASHINGTON - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) notified seven companies that they will be considered for debarment from federal contracting because each has been found to be unlawfully employing persons without employment authorization.

"By using debarment in appropriate circumstances, the federal government can avoid working with businesses that employ an illegal workforce and unscrupulously undercut their competitors to gain an unfair market advantage because of reduced labor costs. This is yet another tool that we believe will further ensure compliance with our nation's immigration employment laws," said Julie L. Myers, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for ICE.

The Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) provide that contractors may be considered for debarment if they have been found to have either knowingly hire an unauthorized worker or to continue to employ an alien who is or becomes unauthorized.

The following seven companies are being considered for debarment:

• Bynum Brothers Home Improvement Co. - Buffalo, N.Y.
• CMC Concrete Construction, Inc. - Manassas, Va.
• Hedges Landscape Specialists Inc. d/b/a Exterior Designs, Inc. and d/b/a Performance Irrigation, LLC - Crestwood, Ky.
• Lochirco Fruit & Produce Inc. d/b/a Happy Apples - Union, Mo.
• MC Cleaning - Bangor, Maine
• Morgan Jones LLC d/b/a Jones Industrial Network and d/b/a Jones Networking - Baltimore, Md.
• Stonewall Concrete, Inc. - Manassas, Va.

The effect of these proposed debarments is as follows:

• Each company's name has been entered into the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS), which is a web-based system that identifies parties suspended, debarred, proposed for debarment or otherwise excluded from receiving federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain types of federal financial and non-financial assistance and benefits.
• The companies are immediately prohibited from competing for new government contracts.
• The proposed debarment and immediate suspension apply government-wide. Neither ICE, nor any other federal agency, may award a new contract while these companies are on the EPLS.
• Each company may, within 30 days, challenge the decision.

The General Services Administration is the agency responsible for maintaining the EPLS. To view the EPLS and to find out more information about the system, please visit www.epls.gov. Businesses can also find out more about the ICE debarment process at www.ice.gov.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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