Figures. White House Awarded $25 Million No-Bid Contract to Big Dem Donor
Posted by Jim Hoft on Monday, January 25, 2010, 5:54 AM
Chicago Politics at its best–
The White House awarded a lucrative $25 million no-bid contract this month to a company owned by a big democratic donor.
James Rosen at FOX News reported:
Despite President Obama’s long history of criticizing the Bush administration for “sweetheart deals” with favored contractors, the Obama administration this month awarded a $25 million federal contract for work in Afghanistan to a company owned by a Democratic campaign contributor without entertaining competitive bids, Fox News has learned.
The contract, awarded on Jan. 4 to Checchi & Company Consulting, Inc., a Washington-based firm owned by economist and Democratic donor Vincent V. Checchi, will pay the firm $24,673,427 to provide “rule of law stabilization services” in war-torn Afghanistan.
A synopsis of the contract published on the USAID Web site says Checchi & Company will “train the next generation of legal professionals” throughout the Afghan provinces and thereby “develop the capacity of Afghanistan’s justice system to be accessible, reliable, and fair.”
The legality of the arrangement as a “sole source,” or no-bid, contract was made possible by virtue of a waiver signed by the USAID administrator. “They cancelled the open bid on this when they came to power earlier this year,” a source familiar with the federal contracting process told Fox News.
“That’s kind of weird,” said another source, who has worked on “rule of law” issues in both Afghanistan and Iraq, about the no-bid contract to Checchi & Company. “There’s lots of companies and non-governmental organizations that do this sort of work.“
Let’s see the White House spin their way out of this one.
Related… 3 out of 4 Americans say much of the Stimulus Money is wasted.
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Busted!… Obama Headlined a DEMOCRAT SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA Event in 1996 **FLIER**
Published May 24, 2012 at 8:46 pm - 60 Comments
myna commented:
What do you expect from a politician came from a corrupt state? How is that HopenChange working for you?
Neo commented:
You see, Checchi & Company has special expertise when it comes to dealing with political corruption, first-hand knowledge.
John Steele commented:
“Let’s see the White House spin their way out of this one.”
What makes you think they will have to spin their way out — the press will just bury it.
down with dems commented:
At what point does “HYPOCRITE” become “LIAR”?
Joe Wilson was right on the money.
Dell commented:
Trying to get this straight in my head. When George W. Bush does it, it’s TREASON and most certainly qualifies as “high crimes and misdemeanors”, suitable for impeachment. When Barack Obama does it, it’s frugal and wise governance, worthy of a congressional medal.
OK, I’ve got it….I think.
/Sarc Off
Tom63010 commented:
I may be mistaken but the Bush administration was constantly badgered about Hallibuton. My understanding was that there was no other company that was uniquely qualified to do the work they did in Iraq.
This article sure doesn’t sound like this company is uniquely qualified to do this work so why wasn’t there open bidding for this contract?
rumcrook commented:
John SteeleNo Gravatar
January 25th, 2010 | 9:49 am | #4
“Let’s see the White House spin their way out of this one.”
What makes you think they will have to spin their way out — the press will just bury it.
beat me to it…
Auntie Em commented:
mmm mmm mmmm….
SHAME on you OBAMA.
mmm mmm mmm
Yo momma should have taught you better.
Your web of lies would knit a sweater.
mmm mmm mmm
SHAME on you OBAMA.
mmm mmm mmm
You lie to us in our schools and homes.
Why won’t you leave us kids alone?
You try to act like your so cool
But we can see you’re a lying fool!
mmm mmm mmm
SHAME on you OBAMA
mmm mmm mmm
It’s clear to all that you’re not like us.
You’re not American, you’ve lost our trust.
So you can whine and cry if you wanna
You blame BUSH…I blame yo MOMMA.
mmm mmm mmm
***written by a 6th grader***
Ladue Pundit commented:
I fear that Congress cannot be taken back quickly enough to save the Republic from this poser.
Obama is the most blatant ideologue this nation has ever seen. He’s not just doubling down, he’s TRIPLING down on every corrupt decision he makes.
Chisum commented:
NO RULES FOR RADICALS
http://www.floppingaces.net/2010/01/24/no-rules-for-radicals/
AuntieMadder commented:
http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2010/01/government-fraud-double-dipping-government-retirees-return-to-work-at-200k.html
GOVERNMENT FRAUD: Double Dipping Government Retirees Return to Work at 200K
The latest scam going on, and it is rampant especially within the Department of Homeland Security, as well as the Immigration & Customs Enforcement, is the hiring of retired employees. I know of this occurring in other departments like Department of Defense, but I can only attest to the experience of my informant at the DHS.
Employees retire under the former CSRS (Civil Service Retirement System). These employees get anywhere between 70-90% percent of their salary, plus availability pay. Their salaries are easily in the $120-150K range. At the ICE Academy location alone, former employees retire (five senior managers, GS-15 and up) and walk into the same job the next day, bringing in over $200K — all under the pretext of a loss of experienced employees (utter nonsense).
They receive NO salary offset.
Doug Edelman commented:
Bush/Cheney: Halliburton
Obama/Biden: Helluvaburden!
Hey Barack! I’d say something about the pot and the kettle – but someone would accuse me of racism! But your hypocrisy goes more than skin deep – and the skin color is irrelevant!
Fred Beloit commented:
I am proud, so very proud, that the Dems in power daily bring shameless bribery right out into the light of day. It used to be a sin hidden in the shadows of secrecy. Congratulations, and especially to John Murtha who has shown them the way, on this great achievement for the USA.
bg commented:
++
Checchi and Company Consulting Inc.
OT..
Hammering Honduras
[The State Department has never explained its harsh treatment of Honduras, a democratic ally. And this latest bullying won't help U.S. credibility with other Latin leaders who might help us, as opposed to assisting the chavistas.]
==
bg commented:
++
Ladue Pundit @ 10:30 am #12
i couldn’t agree more..
==
bg commented:
++
who doesn’t know by now that Stimulus = Slush Fund..
==
O-tard commented:
Haliburton! Oh wait, um, er, aw s**t….
EMK commented:
Wow. I am waiting to hear the screams from the left.
Finncrisp commented:
In OBAMAWORLD, every decision is right, every bill is worthy, every appointee is qualified, every payoff is justified, every dissent is obstruction, and every lie is true. LOL with that, Barry!
We are so on to you…
worshU commented:
OOPS! that’s a little too much transparency!
thomas b. commented:
WTF. I can’t believe that there is even a contract for this. There is a specific quasi-government agency that specializes in this. It’s called the USIP (US Institute of Peace). It would be cheaper just to give them the money and not go through this bid craziness, but I guess obama has to pay his cronies somehow.
John Fembup commented:
C’mon give Checchi a break.
He SAID he didn’t realize it was a no-bid award. Why don’t you believe the man?
He probably never received any specifications. Why would he expect a $24 million federal contract to be rebid anyway? He made all the required political contributions. I ask you, what more was the man supposed to do?
Besides, a set of federal specifications for a $24 million contract is almost indistinguishable from AARP junk mail. So even the feds DID send specs to Checchi, they probably went right in the trash along with the other junk mail and no one at Checchi even realized there was a bid.
And the federal procurement officers naturally knew that Checchi would submit the best bid anyway – so what possible purpose would be served by bidding anyway except to drive up the red tape, bureaucracy, and cost of our government. No harm, no foul I always say.
That’s why I think we need to give this honest hard-working man a break and get off his back.