Investigation of Alleged Collusion on Coastal Impact Assistance Program Grant

OIG has completed an investigation into allegations of contract improprieties related to Coastal Impact Assistance Program grant funds awarded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The complainant alleged that a grantee facilitated bid rigging and violated acquisition regulations by allowing a contractor to change the contract’s scope from the purchase of supplies to a research project. 

 

Our investigation found that the contract in question was never awarded. The grantee determined that the contractor’s initial proposal would exceed the available funding and that subsequent proposals, which were revised to lower the requested amount, would not be viable in an arctic environment.