IBM is banned from bidding on federal government contracts while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency investigates a charge Big Blue colluded with EPA employees to win a March 2006 contract with the agency for $80 million.
The computer services vendor said in a statement it was “blindsided” by the suspension that bars the vendor from seeking any new federal contracts with all U.S. agencies while the investigation proceeds.
According to IBM and the EPA, the investigation stems from an $80 million bid it made to modernize the EPA’s financial systems in March 2006. The contract in question has yet to be awarded. IBM spokesman Fred McNeese confirmed in a statement that the value of IBM’s bid was around $80 million and was for a system-wide EPA project, but referred any further questions to the EPA.
EPA Press Secretary Jonathan Shradar confirmed in a statement that his agency temporarily suspended IBM from receiving new federal contracts on Thursday, March 27, but declined to comment further. IBM said it only learned of the suspension Friday, March 28.
IBM also said it would cooperate with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, which served IBM and select IBM employees with grand jury subpoenas requesting their testimony and documents on interactions between EPA and IBM employees.
IBM Won’t Fight Ban
McNeese said in a statement that though IBM would cooperate with the investigation, the company did plan to fight to limit the scope of the suspension from bidding on new contracts.
The temporary suspension applies to all federal agencies and IBM business units. IBM may continue work on existing contracts as of the date of the suspension, unless a particular agency directs otherwise, the company said in the statement.
IBM has 30 days to contest the scope of the suspension under federal procurement rules, and the suspension could last as long as one year. Depending on the length of the suspension, IBM stands to lose out on potential contracts to rivals EDS or Affiliated Computer Services Inc.
IBM said in the statement that all employees receive business conduct training, and that specialized training is provided for employees who seek federal government business.