Just over a year after launching the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF), the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division (DOJ) announced new measures to further its pursuit of antitrust and related crimes in government procurement, grant, and program funding.
These changes expand the PCSF’s enforcement capacity and signal DOJ’s enduring — and intensifying — commitment to the PCSF’s mission.
The PCSF has added 11 new national partners: the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and nine new U.S. Attorneys. As a result, the growing PCSF coalition now includes 29 agencies and offices, including U.S. Attorneys in 22 federal judicial districts; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Offices of Inspectors General at six federal agencies. The PCSF also named the Antitrust Division’s Daniel Glad as the Strike Force’s first permanent director, solidifying the PCSF’s institutional role at DOJ. Glad previously served as an Assistant Chief at the Antitrust Division’s Chicago Office.
These changes followed a productive year for the PCSF. Since its formation, the PCSF has facilitated the opening of more than two dozen active grand jury investigations, covering a wide array of procurement collusion and fraud matters from defense and national security to public works projects. The PCSF has focused on expanding the use of data analytics to detect suspicious bid patterns, sharing best practices on collusion analytics, and providing training on both the buy and sell side of government contracting. The PCSF has also adapted to COVID-19, including the heightened collusion risks associated with exigent procurement by government agencies. In March, Attorney General William Barr underscored this focus: “The Department of Justice stands ready to make sure that bad actors do not take advantage of emergency response efforts, healthcare providers, or the American people during this crucial time.”
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