SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler cited the early June announcement that a former U.S. Agency for International Development contracting officer pled guilty to charges stemming from a decades-long bribery scheme when announcing the 8(a) program review. Nora Carol Photography / Getty Images
SBA to audit 8(a) contracting program
The Small Business Administration cites the guilty pleas of a former contracting officer and industry executives in a decades-long bribery scheme.
The Small Business Administration will carry out an audit of its contracting program focused on small businesses with the 8(a) socioeconomic distinction.
SBA’s Office of General Contracting and Business Development will look at contracts awarded over the past 15 years that the agency labels as “high-dollar and limited competition.”
In announcing the review, SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler cited the early June announcement that a former U.S. Agency for International Development contracting officer pled guilty to charges stemming from a decades-long bribery scheme. Three industry executives also pled guilty and two companies admitted their involvement as well.
“We must hold both contracting officers and 8(a) participants accountable – and start rewarding merit instead of those who game the system,” Loeffler said in the SBA release.
The audit will be led by SBA’s Office of General Contracting and Business Development, which will submit its findings to the SBA Office of Inspector General and Justice Department.
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