The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Air Force Base overspent by nearly $1M

The error on a $9 million paving contract has led to a spending review at Wright-Pat.

Solar project to add 82 jobs to Dayton company
2/10/10
Longtime car dealer: Service brings success
2/10/10
SunCoke gets final permit, can start construction
2/9/10
Local pharmacist joins online cardiac venture
2/10/10
Over 300 jobs expected from grants to Dayton, Springfield companies
2/9/10
> More headlines

By John Nolan, Staff Writer 9:44 PM Friday, November 13, 2009

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE — The base contracting unit says it “inadvertently” overspent a $9 million paving contract authorization by nearly $1 million, and has begun a review of other such contracts to ensure that their spending limits have not been exceeded.

The 88th Contracting Squadron’s contract with Diaz Enterprises Inc., of Minford, was overspent by $941,464, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base officials said in a statement Thursday, Nov. 12, responding to questions from the Dayton Daily News.

“Near the end of the government fiscal year (Sept. 30), we incorrectly placed four orders against the paving contract that cumulatively exceeded the ceiling of the contract,” the statement said.

Exceeding contract ceilings, without including specific written approval and justification in the record, can violate federal law. Overspending a contract, without proper authorization, can be regarded as changing the scope of a contract and is considered unfair to contractors which competed for it under the government’s originally stated specifications.

Wright-Patterson awarded Diaz a new paving contract for the federal fiscal year that began Oct. 1. The orders that pushed the old contract over its spending limit should have been charged to the new one, base officials said.

“This error did not harm any company in the marketplace,” the base’s statement said. “Diaz was the winning contractor competitively selected for both the older and the follow-on paving contract.”

The base’s statement did not say whether the Air Force is taking steps to determine who was accountable for the error. An internal investigation is to be done, base spokesman Derek Kaufman said Friday.

“Where’s the administration and management of the contract by the government to make sure they’re operating within contracting boundaries?” said Scott Amey, general counsel for the Project on Government Oversight, an independent watchdog organization in Washington, D.C.

“I think this case highlights the lack of efficient systems that would have placed the Air Force on notice of this mistake.” Contracting personnel will be provided refresher training in contract management, base officials said.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, would be interested in reviewing the findings of the Air Force’s investigation, spokeswoman Joanna Kuebler said Friday. “The senator believes wasting taxpayer dollars is unacceptable,” Kuebler said.

Contact this reporter  at (937) 225-2242  or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

Understand the FACTs

DDN Writer-you do a great job "blogging" a story. In fact, how many of those that you interviewed did you look in the eye? I was taught a long time ago that the "truth that an individual communicates" can only be determined in person.

StoryTeller Watchdog-have you stopped to think about communicating in a way that did not directly attack individuals?

I know more about that facts then I think either of you want to hear - contact me for a face to face interview.

Get the FACTs straight
9:56 PM, 12/7/2009

REPORT ABUSE

To "not really a watchdog" I wasn't in line for those 2 promotions - 1 military and 1 civilian. I work where I do because I love doing what I do. If you really followed the DDN articles you'd discover the $1M is just part of approximately $50M in fraud, waste and abuse over the past 2 years in the 88th Contracting Squadron. And yes, it is illegal. Five different laws were violated. You might read up on the United States Code and Code of Federal Regulations before you start mouthing off.

watchdog
7:11 PM, 11/16/2009

REPORT ABUSE

duke - yes, I'm the "mole." Getting a little too hot for you? I've been shining light on fraud, waste and abuse for 30 years - ain't stopping now, especially when this is tied into the largest fraud investigation in DOD procurement history. In response to "not really a watchdog" There were systems in place. Management dismantled them - too much accountability I guess. And yes, I too make mistakes on occasion - but none has cost honest contractors the right to bid on Government contracts.

watchdog
7:06 PM, 11/16/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Watchdog: Wouldn't a more appropriate name for you be "Mole"? You really need to get a life, just do it somewhere else besides at Wright-Patt.

Duke
4:36 PM, 11/16/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Everyone knows the government system & process are flawed creating abuse & waste.

Questions for "DOG"?

Isn't there check & balances (Computer Systems) generating alerts when contracts are coming close to there limits?

How wide spread, just at WPAFB or through out the DOD?

Aren't contracts a closed process, which would likely prevent what you are claiming? This seems more of human accounting mistake.

It sound like you are CYA

Not really a Watchdog
5:22 PM, 11/15/2009

REPORT ABUSE

There are 35 additional comments

SHOW ALL

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.