Contracting Preferences for Alaska Native Corporations

Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight

Thursday, July 16, 2009
02:30 PM
Dirksen Senate Office Building, room SD-342

[view archive webcast]

The preference given Alaska Native Corporations in federal procurement was intended to provide economic opportunities for impoverished Alaskan communities. But it has become a vehicle for avoiding competition and passing work through to large, non-Native contractors. In 2006, GAO called the provisions an “open checkbook.” The hearing examined new findings from federal auditors and explore potential abuses in the award, management, and oversight of these contract vehicles.

Additional information and materials relating to this hearing are available at http://mccaskill.senate.gov/issues/soco/docs.cfm

Member Statements

• Senator Daniel K. Akaka   [view statement]
• Senator Susan M. Collins   [view statement]
• Senator Claire McCaskill   [view statement]

Witnesses

Panel 1

• Ms. Debra Ritt [view testimony]
  Assistant Inspector General for Auditing, Office of Inspector General
  U.S. Small Business Administration
• Mr. Joseph Jordan [view testimony]
  Associate Administrator for Government Contracting & Business Development
  U.S. Small Business Administration
• Mr. Shay Assad [view testimony]
  Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Technology
  U.S. Department of Defense

Panel 2

• Ms. Sarah Lukin [view testimony]
  Executive Director
  Native American Contractors Association
• Ms. Jacqueline Johnson Pata [view testimony]
  Executive Director
  National Congress of American Indians
• Ms. Julie Kitka [view testimony]
  President
  Alaska Federation of Natives
• Mr. Mark Lumer [view testimony]
  Senior Vice President, Federal Programs
  Cirrus Technology, Inc
• Ms. Christina Schneider [view testimony]
  Chief Financial Officer
  Purcell Construction Corporation