Suspension, debarments on the rise

The rate of contractors being suspended and disbarred is going up, according to Government Executive magazine.

Citing a report from the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, the number of suspensions and debarments rose from 1,900 in fiscal 2009 to 3,000 in 2011.

“It is critical that the government take a hard line against those who would defraud taxpayers. This report shows the Obama administration has made significant progress in cracking down on bad actors,” GovExec quoted Joe Jordan, OFPP administrator as writing on his blog.

Each of the 24 agencies that account for 98 percent of government contracting now has a senior official overseeing the suspension and debarment process, GovExec reported.