House committee investigates no-bid contract

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics/story/266668.html

Posted on Sat, Sep. 08, 2007 10:15 PM

House committee investigates no-bid contract
The Washington Post

WASHINGTON | A House oversight committee is investigating a no-bid contract awarded by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Counternarcotics Enforcement.

It involves a senior government official and his former colleagues at a private consulting firm. Committee officials said they planned to focus on whether the department’s ethical guidelines were followed and whether internal policies are rigorous enough.

The official initially designated to lead the project was Scott Chronister, who joined the government in 2005, documents show.

Chronister contacted a former colleague seeking help for the office in July 2006. The consultant suggested an approach that would enable the Homeland Security office to hire him and another former colleague without competition, according to documents and interviews. Last September, the office awarded a contract to the consultants. Chronister was not involved in the award.