Misused funds get office closed

The General Services Administration closed down its Federal Technology Service field office in Bremerton, Wash., after the agency's inspector general found that staff misused the IT Fund to buy construction, architecture and engineering services.

Congress created the fund to let FTS offices award contracts that federal agencies can then use to acquire systems services. But an IG review of 30 task orders issued by the Bremerton office over two years found that more than $36 million from the IT Fund was used to build a new office building and for renovations.

The office also issued contracts for construction services to small technology businesses participating in the Small Business Administration's 8(a) program.