The Small Business Administration has revoked the Historically Underutilized Business Zone status of a contractor that has come under congressional scrutiny over nearly $500 million in IRS contracts from last year.
SBA spokeswoman Tiffani Clements told Federal Times in an email that Strong Castle Inc., was decertified as a so-called HUBZone contractor on May 23. The status gives contractors an edge in competing for federal work by being based in economically distressed areas.
Clements declined to provide further details, saying the decision letter contained confidential business information. Strong Castle is located on the 500 block of H Street N.W. in Washington’s Chinatown neighborhood.
Strong Castle, formerly Signet Computers, did not return email or phone messages this week.
The move by the SBA comes one month after the Government Accountability Office denied a protest from losing bidders who raised questions about whether Signet improperly qualified for HUBZone status.
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