Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight
Claire believes that one way to reduce government spending is to target waste, fraud and abuse in government contracting. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight (SOCO), Claire conducts investigations and holds regular hearings to examine how to bring more efficiency, transparency, and accountability to the contracting process.
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If you have information regarding waste, fraud, and abuse in government contracting, please contact the Subcommittee at whistleblowers[at]mccaskill.senate.gov.
Chronology of Subcommittee Actions RSS
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Thursday, November 18, 2010
Subcommittee releases information relating to $96,000 SIGAR contract
Today, Chairman McCaskill released new information regarding a sole-source contract awarded by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) to Joseph Schmitz, a former Defense Department Inspector General. Mr. Schmitz, who resigned from the Defense Department in 2005, received $96,000 for approximately two months’ work as an “Independent Monitor” of SIGAR’s investigations division.
Memo for Members and Staff
Abbreviated Justification and Approval Doccument JESPLLC
Army Contracting Command re: SIGAR
Terms of Reference for Independent Monitorship
Independent Monitor Final Report -
Friday, November 12, 2010
Chairman McCaskill Asks for Information about Public Relations Contracts
Following reports that the General Services Administration hired a public relations firm on the heels of a request for an investigation into environmental contamination at the Bannister Federal Complex in Kansas City, MO, Chairman McCaskill sent letters to the General Services Administration and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy asking for information and documents regarding the government's use of public relations contracts.
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Friday, October 29, 2010
Subcommittee invites witnesses for hearing on oversight of Afghanistan contracts
On Thursday, November 18, the Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the oversight of reconstruction contracts and the role of the Special Inspector General. The hearing will examine the role of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) and assess SIGAR’s effectiveness at preventing and detecting waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars.
Invitation to DOD IG Gordon Heddell
Invitation to DOS Deputy IG Harold Geisel
Invitation to FDIC IG Jon Rymer
Invitation to SIGAR Arnold Fields
Invitation to SIGIR Stuart Bowen
Invitation to TVA IG Richard Moore
Invitation to USAID IG Donald Gambatesa
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Monday, October 25, 2010
Subcommittee Investigates Department of Energy Contracts
On Monday, October 25, 2010, Chairman McCaskill sent a letter to the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration requesting information and documents relating to contracts to manage the nation’s nuclear weapons programs.
Letter to Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration
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Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Subcommittee Issues Subpoenas
On Friday, July 23, 2010, Chairman McCaskill issued subpoenas to compel the attendance of John C. Metzler and Thurman Higginbotham, the former Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent at Arlington National Cemetery, at the Subcommittee's July 29, 2010 hearing on contract mismanagement at Arlington National Cemetery.
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Thursday, July 15, 2010
Subcommittee Invites Witnesses for Hearing on Arlington National Cemetery
Today Chairman McCaskill and Ranking Member Brown invited three witnesses from the U.S. Army to testify at a July 29, 2010 hearing on the mismanagement of contracts at Arlington National Cemetery. The Subcommittee also invited John Metzler, the former Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery, and Thurman Higginbotham, the former Deputy Superintendent, to appear.
Invitation and Document Request to McHughMcCaskill Letter to Higginbotham
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Monday, July 12, 2010
State Department Responds to Subcommittee’s Questions About Iraq Contracts
On July 9, 2010, the State Department responded to a Subcommittee request regarding the Department’s plans for contracts following the military withdrawal in 2011. The Department provided written answers to questions raised by Chairman McCaskill about reports that the Department has requested military equipment, vehicles, and aircraft, including Blackhawk helicopters, to protect State Department personnel in Iraq after the military withdrawal in 2011.
State Department Response Letter
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Chairman McCaskill Investigates Contracts at Arlington National Cemetery
Friday, June 25, 2010Today the Subcommittee asked the Army to provide documents and information about contracts at Arlington National Cemetery. They plan to hold a hearing on this issue on July 29th.
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Chairman McCaskill Asks State Department for Information Relating to State Departments Plans in Iraq
Wednesday, June 16, 2010Today the Subcommittee asked the State Department about reports that the Department has requested military equipment, vehicles, and aircraft, including Blackhawk helicopters, to protect State Department personnel in Iraq after the military withdrawal in 2011. Chairman McCaskill asked the Department to provide documents and information regarding its plans, including whether these aircraft and vehicles will be operated be contractors. Chairman McCaskill also asked for information about the Department's request to use the Army's LOGCAP contract to provide laundry, meals, and other services in Iraq.
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Subcommittee invites witnesses for second hearing on interagency contracts
Thursday, June 10, 2010Today the Subcommittee invited Daniel Gordon, the Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, and representatives of the General Services Administration, Department of Homeland Security, and National Institutes of Health to appear at the Subcommittee's June 30, 2010 hearing on interagency contracts. The Subcommittee also invited John Needham of the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
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Subcommittee investigates federal contract audits
Thursday, May 6, 2010Today, Chairman McCaskill asked for information from 22 federal agencies about contract audits.
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Chairman McCaskill urges Defense Department to compete Iraq contract
Friday, April 30, 2010Today, Subcommittee Chairman McCaskill, Subcommittee Ranking Member Brown, and Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Collins asked Defense Secretary Gates to explain the the Department's plans to end competition for a new task order for base life support services in Iraq under the LOGCAP IV contract.
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Subcommitee holds hearing on medicare contracts
Wednesday, April 28, 2010Today the Subcommittee held a hearing to examine pervasive deficiencies in contract management at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). At the hearing, Chairman McCaskill released new information about CMS contracting and about the management and oversight of the Medicare Secondary Payer Recovery Contractor (MSPRC).
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Subcommittee holds hearing on Afghan police training contracts
Thursday, April 15, 2010The Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight held a hearing to examine contracts for training the Afghan National Police, which addressed concerns raised in recent reports by the Inspectors General for the Departments of State and Defense about the management and oversight of these contracts.
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Chairman McCaskill asks for more information about Kabul Embassy guard contracts
Friday, March 19, 2010Chairman McCaskilll asked the State Department for additional information about the management of the contractor guard force at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, including the Department's plans to use a contractor to provide oversight.
Letter from Chairman McCaskill to the Department of State (March 19, 2010)
Answers to Questions for the Record Submitted to Ambassador Eric Boswell by Senator Claire McCaskill Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Commit (December 9, 2009)
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Subcommittee holds hearing on interagency contracts
Thursday, February 25, 2010Today the Subcommittee held a hearing to examine the rapid proliferation of interagency contracting in recent years. The hearing explored whether agencies are creating and using these contracts responsibly and assessed the need for increased transparency, oversight, and other potential reforms. The Subcommittee plans to hold a hearing with officials from the Office of Management and Budget and other relevant agencies later this year.
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Subcommittee investigates counter-narcotics contracts in South America
Friday, February 12, 2010Chairman McCaskill sent letters to Defense Secretary Gates and State Department Assistant Secretary David Johnson asking for information and documents relating to the Defense Department’s and State Department’s management of large contracts for counternarcotics assistance in Central and South America. Chairman McCaskill also announced that the Subcommittee will hold a hearing on these issues on May 20, 2010.
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Chairman McCaskill asks for briefing on new competition rules for Alaska Native Corporations
Thursday, February 11, 2010As part of the Subcommittee's ongoing oversight of contracting preferences for Alaska Native Corporations, Chairman McCaskill sent a letter to the Defense Department asking for a briefing on new rules that would require justification and approval for large no-bid contracts with Alaska Native Corporations.
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Subcommittee to hold roundtable on USAID contracts
Wednesday, January 27, 2010On February 2, 2010, the Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight will hold a roundtable discussion with the leading contractors for USAID in Afghanistan. Chairman McCaskill and Ranking Member Bennett have invited Black & Veatch, Creative Associates International, Checchi and Company Consulting, Chemonics International, Inc., Deloitte & Touche (BearingPoint), Development Alternatives, Inc., International Relief and Development Inc., International Resources Group, and the Louis Berger Group to share their perspectives.
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Statement of Chairman McCaskill on waste in Iraq police training oversight
Monday, January 25, 2010Today, the Special Inspector General on Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) released a new report finding that the State Department's failure to oversee a contract with DynCorp to train the Iraqi police force left more than $2.5 billion vulnerable to waste and fraud. In a statement, Chairman McCaskill called on the State Department to correct these ongoing management problems immediately. Chairman McCaskill also announced that the Subcommittee will hold a hearing with the State Department, Defense Department, and DynCorp when SIGIR completes its second audit of the contract.