TGC-46-18 Feature Comment.pmd

This material reprinted from THE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTOR appears here with the permission of the publisher,West, a Thomson business. Further use without the permission of West is prohibited.THE GOVERNMENT®CONTRACTORInformation and Analysis on Legal Aspects of ProcurementVol. 46, No. 18 May 5, 2004 rienced by the defense industry in the 1980s. Fol-lowing a surge in defense spending, a number ofprocurement scandals and investigations arose. TheFocusmost notable was Operation Ill Wind, a vast crimi-nal investigation into procurement fraud conductedbetween 1986 and 1990. That investigation targeted¶ 185corrupt procurement practices infesting the defenseindustry, and it resulted in the conviction of moreFEATURE COMMENT: Emerging Issues Inthan 90 companies and individuals in dozens of de-Iraq Reconstruction Contracting—fense programs. The continual public reports ofAudits, Investigations, And Thefraud and waste severely eroded public confidenceTransition Of Sovereigntyin the defense industry.The acquisition process and business environ-The reconstruction of Iraq has become outsourcedment involved in the reconstruction of Iraq are ripenation-building. Tens of billions of dollars are flow-to produce a similar circumstance. While the Gov-ing to thousands of prime contractors and subcon-ernment has shifted the bulk of tasks to contrac-tractors, creating an unprecedented level of private-tors, it has also leanly staffed its contracting activi-sector ...