Administrative Investigation, Improper Contracts, Conflict of Interest, Failure to Follow Policy, and Lack of Candor, Health Administration Center, Denver, Colorado

An administrative investigation found that a VHA Senior Official engaged in improper contracting activities when she instructed her subordinates to issue sole-source task orders to one specific contractor and in a conflict of interest when she failed to maintain an arm’s-length relationship with two VA contractors. She also violated VA policy when she sent VA contract proprietary information to her personal home computer and when she emailed a VA OIG draft audit report to one of the contractors about 1 month prior to her program office awarding them a task order that was consistent with the audit report. Further, she did not testify freely and honestly concerning her relationship to contractors and her involvement in the decision to award and administer the task orders. The investigation also disclosed that a VHA Senior Contracting Officer did not comply with Federal Acquisition Regulations pertaining to orders placed against Federal Supply Schedule contracts.