New Orleans pump contract may have been rigged (Jeb Bush former employer)

[catgirl]

Faulty water pumps were supplied by Jeb Bush former employer MWI, a big
republican donor. The GAO is investigating after a whistleblower noted that
the specs for the job were copied straight from MWI's catalogue, typos and all.

AP link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/katrina_faulty_pumps;_ylt=AoXizzXq_pQih6z_zdswFj9hr7sF

[fasttense]

1. Seems "free trade" is fine for the little people

but for well connected corporations, there is no such thing as free trade.

"In a letter dated April 13, Sen. David Vitter, R-La., called on the Corps to look into how the politically connected company got the post-Hurricane Katrina contract. MWI employed former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, President Bush's brother, to market its pumps during the 1980s, and top MWI officials have been major contributors to the Republican Party.

While it may not be a violation of federal regulations to adopt a company's technical specifications, it is frowned on, especially for large jobs like the MWI contract, because it could give the impression the job was rigged for the benefit of a certain company, contractors familiar with Corps practices say."

[lapfog_1]

2. A favorite lazy SEB/contracting officer ploy

Figure out what company you want to do "bidness" with and then use their specs in your IFB or IFP.

Most that do this kind of shenanigan in the government have figured out how to disguise this a bit.

[Justyce]

3. I would have been more surprised

if the contract had been awarded to fairly to the best company/bid rather than Bush/Cheney ties. Now THAT would be news.