Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Former Congressman Weldon instrumental in questionable defense contract

We periodically receive newsletters from a wide variety of government reform news sources. These focus on only the major events within their respective areas of expertise. Here is a selection from a recent email newsletter:
From PRWatch.org
http://bit.ly/3OxG0q

A Deal So Good It Could be Illegal
Source: Wired's Danger Room, July 10, 2008

Former Congressman Curt Weldon's employer Defense Solutions got a good deal in Iraq. So good, that "the deal, for decades-old, equipment, included terms so lopsided, they likely would have been illegal under U.S. law." Defense Solutions got a contract with the Iraqi government in 2005 to refurbish obsolete Soviet-era Hungarian tanks. While U.S. law would dictate that the company's fee be tied to performance, Defense Solutions' contract not only ensures payment, it also gives them a percentage of the total cost. Even the Pentagon admits that "A cost plus percentage of cost type arrangement would encourage the contractor to experience as much cost as possible to receive a greater amount of fee." The status of the tanks is not known, and the amount paid to Defense Solutions is confidential. The contract was signed on the Iraqi side by Ziad Cattan, who was put in place by the U.S. to oversee Iraq's defense procurement. During his time in Congress, Weldon was on the House Committee on Armed Services and chaired the Military Procurement Subcommittee under Armed Services.

.
---
> All Things Reform Mobile: allthingsreform.mofuse.mobi
> Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 (not toll-free)
> US House/ US Senate Mobile: bit.ly/members
> Contact your representative tips: bit.ly/dear
---
.