The White House’s contracting policy chief is leaving to take a job at a company
that conducts billions of dollars in reverse auctions for federal agencies, raising more concerns about the “revolving door” that President Obama pledged to end between government and special interests.
Joseph Jordan, the administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, is leaving to take a job at FedBid, a private Virginia-based company that has come under congressional scrutiny in recent weeks over whether its reverse auction model saves the government much money.
at FedBid, a private Virginia-based company that has come under congressional scrutiny in recent weeks over whether its reverse auction model saves the government much money.
Mr. Jordan’s career move is the latest to alarm watchdogs who say the jumps from government to the private sector seem to do more to enrich individuals than they do to help taxpayers.
to the private sector seem to do more to enrich individuals than they do to help taxpayers.
“Unfortunately, we think the OFPP has become a launching pad for future contractor lobbyists,” said Joe Newman, spokesman for the Project On Government Oversight, which monitors government contracting.
Weeks before news of Mr. Jordan’s move to the company, questions about reverse-auction rules arose in Congress. Congressional auditors asked the White House Office of Management and Budget, where Mr. Jordan works, to amend federal acquisition rules on reverse auctions to mitigate confusion among agencies about the contracting technique.
Via: Washington Times
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