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Return to Article: GSA to establish $5 billion IT contract for disabled vet businesses

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  The service disabled small business program had the best of intentions. But I have personally seen a case where the "disabled veteran owned" construction business becomes a front man for a greedy large contractor.

  There is no provision for any oversight here, so fraud must run rampant. The disabled vet has absolutely no control over the operation or management of "his" company.

  I recently worked as a project manager for such a company. I was paid through the non-vet owned company, given authority to run the entire job, and I never even met the supposed owner. When I asked my real employer if this was legal, I was told that this was the way everyone did this, and that it was all legal.

  But when the disabled veteran wanted to be involved, the real owners told him to just shut up, stay away from the job, and stay out of the daily management and operations. It disgusted me to see them take the bulk of the money, as the disabled vet learned nothing about running a business. Instead, he got an allowance like a child, was to get only a very small percentage of the profits.

  The project staff at the VA hospital knew of the deception, but the manager there chose to look the other way. You see, the real contractor had a suite for the season with the local NHL team.

  I actually stood there as he told the VP of the company that he could use some tickets,(blocks of four seats) to several upcoming NHL hockey games. He took a schedule out of his desk to detail what games he wanted to go to, to help him and place his "order."

  He half jokingly told me after attending one of his hockey games, that he hoped the job would last until the NFL football season, because he knew that the firm had a block of season tickets for that as well.

  I left the company as soon as I found another position. The entire affair was the low point of my career. I wish I had simply refused to run the project, and let them discharge me, but I cant change that now.

  But the real shame is that no one in the government is watching or even seems to give a damn...

  DJ Posted April 8, 2008 12:15 PM
• 48133
  

  The service disabled small business program had the best of intentions. But I have personally seen a case where the "disabled veteran owned" construction business becomes a front man for a greedy large contractor.

  There is no provision for any oversight here, so fraud must run rampant. The disabled vet has absolutely no control over the operation or management of "his" company.

  I recently worked as a project manager for such a company. I was paid through the non-vet owned company, given authority to run the entire job, and I never even met the supposed owner. When I asked my real employer if this was legal, I was told that this was the way everyone did this, and that it was all legal.

  But when the disabled veteran wanted to be involved, the real owners told him to just shut up, stay away from the job, and stay out of the daily management and operations. It disgusted me to see them take the bulk of the money, as the disabled vet learned nothing about running a business. Instead, he got an allowance like a child, was to get only a very small percentage of the profits.

  The project staff at the VA hospital knew of the deception, but the manager there chose to look the other way. You see, the real contractor had a suite for the season with the local NHL team.

  I actually stood there as he told the VP of the company that he could use some tickets,(blocks of four seats) to several upcoming NHL hockey games. He took a schedule out of his desk to detail what games he wanted to go to, to help him and place his "order."

  He half jokingly told me after attending one of his hockey games, that he hoped the job would last until the NFL football season, because he knew that the firm had a block of season tickets for that as well.

  I left the company as soon as I found another position. The entire affair was the low point of my career. I wish I had simply refused to run the project, and let them discharge me, but I cant change that now.

  But the real shame is that no one in the government is watching or even seems to give a damn...

  DJ Posted April 8, 2008 12:15 PM
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  "The contract is intended to help agencies meet their mandated 3 percent goal for contracting with service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. The contracts are indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity, with the purpose of providing agencies with a means for acquiring services when they do not know the specifics of the services they need." Stated only as a government operation could state something. This is ridiculous! Now all the small businesses will have to run out and bring a disabled vet into ownership to take advantage of this contract. If the agencies need help let then achieve results or give up money! Also, if the agencies do not know their requirements how could they contract for services? This illustrates the totally ridiculous use of my money to achieve political objectives that should not be implemented! Why do you think the USA is broke? If South Korea is diverting its investments away from dollars what do you think others are doing? This type of waste will cause the dollar to give up even more value and redirect investment to other currencies! This is another example of it is more important to look good than to feel good!

  taxpayer Posted February 28, 2005 6:27 AM
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  This will prove to be a fraud before it is over with. If any disabled vets think the government is going to do this, they had better think again. These businesses may end up being labeled as a "disabled veterans business", but you can bet they will be owned by the money people. The government is nowhere near this kind to disabled veterans. The plans have already been worked out and you can bet on it. Just think of the federal agencies that have fought for years to keep from hiring disabled vets, and have done everything in their power to shaft those who served this country. The treatment of disabled veterans in this country by the government is nothing less than criminal, and now another joke has been added to their list.

  Charlie Posted February 25, 2005 6:59 PM