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Return to Article: FEATURES Turn Yourselves In

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  Lets make 'em turn themselves in. With this rule, why would a contractor who makes an honest mistake risk hiding it? Those who knowlingly defraud will make every attempt to hide their actions so they won't self-report anyway. This rule provides for a bigger stick to beat cheaters with and I think that is the point. Better for a cheater to confess now and ask for forgiveness then to face the full wrath of the DoJ. I can hear it now: "Not only did you knowlingly attempt to defraud the Government Mr. Contractor, you chose not to acknowledge your actions and report the violation, as required by law." I think this new rule takes away a major defence of unscrupulous contractors; the excuse of ignorance.

  Paul Posted November 19, 2008 11:21 AM
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  Are you kidding me! What contractor would do this.. Most of the contracts awarded in DOD have some type of fraud. Isnt fraud the amount of $ the contractor is over charging for there services..

  Laughing Posted April 10, 2008 7:25 PM
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  Are you serious? Turn yourself in? I've been working with or in govt for decades and have seen fraud, waste and abuse on a weekly basis. Trust me, never would anyone turn themselves in.

  Many times people dont even realize what they are doing. I work at a place where DOD civilians come into work at 1030 to 1100 and leave at 1800. At the same time the same people are also on compressed work schedule. So you do the math. They should be working 9 or 10 hour days. Then times how many years these folks have been doing this and their pay grade (all are 13s) all adds up to a lot of hours and money.

  In my past job I started working in HUMINT with another DOD agency. I thought with 9/11 and the Iraq war that we would be busy as all get out, but when I got there everyone was more worried about me slowing down and not making them look bad. We have guys in the field for 20 to 25 years that have gotten away with no supervision. I've never known anyone that worked more than 30 hours a week. This is why no-one wants to come to headquarters.

  The IC has no oversight and it will never change.

  Roberta Posted April 8, 2008 7:33 AM
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  They ought to fire all the folks involved with implementing this "voluntary turn yourself in" program. Just think of the cost savings the taxpayers will get from just their salaries alone... more than what we will get from the contractors that turn themselves in...

  Better settle for the sure thing than to hope this program has any benefit.

  Frank Posted April 7, 2008 11:12 PM
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  Yeah, let's put all the billion dollar contract awardees on the honor system, then law enforcement can focus all their resources on the petty theives.

  Doe Posted April 7, 2008 12:55 PM
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  Guess we don't have to have any oversight of Halliburton anymore as obviously they'll gladly turn themselves in next time they're naughty.

  DSR Posted April 4, 2008 11:42 AM
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  Note that current whistleblower protection laws don't protect federal employees that report contractor wrongdoing. Feds are wide open to retaliation if they dare make agency management look bad by exposing contractor shenanigans. And you know contractors aren't going to report themselves if they believe they can get away with something. With this recipe only the most blatant problems will ever reach the IG's office.

  Three Monkeys Posted April 4, 2008 2:45 AM
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  Kinda like putting a child in charge of the candy store!

  Tom, DC Posted April 3, 2008 2:45 PM