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Former COR sentenced to 5 years in prison for conspiracy and bribery

Jerry T. Vertefeuille of Niceville, Florida was sentenced on Feb. 12th to 60 months in prison.  Co-defendant Christopher A. Carter of Fort Walton Beach, Florida is scheduled to be sentenced on February 15th. 

Vertefeuille pleaded guilty to conspiracy (to commit theft of honest services and wire fraud), bribery of a public official, and obtaining and disclosing procurement information.

Vertefeuille was a federal Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for the 96 Test Wing Maintenance Group (96 MXG) at Eglin Air Force Base.  His duties included overseeing maintenance work and initially approving purchases and invoices.

In 2007, Vertefeuille helped Carter, as the owner of TCC Services, Unlimited, LLC, win a paint booth maintenance contract, as well as multiple contract renewals.  Vertefeuille received kickbacks in exchange for approving Carter’s fraudulent invoices and recommending the renewal of TCC’s contract.

U.S. Attorney Keefe said: “Public corruption is an attack on the rule of law, which is the mission of the Department of Justice and the cornerstone of American government.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, is committed to upholding the public’s faith in honest services and enforcing high ethical standards.”

“Corruption in the government procurement process damages the public trust and ultimately degrades the warfighting mission of the Department of Defense,” commented Special Agent in Charge John F. Khin with the southeast field office of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS).  “DCIS, along with our investigative partners, remains committed to pursuing and bringing to justice anyone who uses fraud and deception to undermine the critical missions of the Department of Defense and the safety of our communities.”

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl/pr/former-government-contracting-officer-representative-sentenced-60-months-prison

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Contracting Officer Representative course coming-up week of March 18th

Contracting officer’s representatives, program/project managers, contracting officers, and industry contracting personnel — all should attend the Contracting Education Academy’s popular 5-day course offering entitled the Contracting Officer Representative and the Contingency Contracting Environment.
Students attending Georgia Tech’s classes work in teams to tackle real-life contracting problems.
Course Description

The Contracting Officer’s Representative course (COR 222), coupled with the Contingency Contracting Environment class (COR 206), provides a comprehensive review and detailed instruction on the role, responsibilities, authority, and limitations of authority of the federal government’s Contracting Officer Representative (COR).  Students learn the fundamentals of contracting regulations, types, phases, and other elements of contract administration.  Students are also coached on the ethical and legal factors that impact COR responsibilities in the normal course of business and in the Contingency Contracting Environment.

Upcoming Dates

The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech is offering the COR course (COR 222/206) on March 18-22, 2019.  This course is taught at Georgia Tech’s world-class Global Learning Center in midtown Atlanta.

Who Should Attend

Contracting officer’s representatives, program/project managers, contracting officers, and industry contracting personnel who interface with contracting officers and contracting officer’s representatives.

Registration

For details on how to register, please visit: https://pe.gatech.edu/courses/cor-206222-contracting-officer-representative-course-and-contingency-contracting-environment

How You Will Benefit

You will learn:

  • How to review contract terms and conditions.
  • Each party’s role and responsibility in contract administration.
  • Proper documentation and approvals for contract changes and modifications.
  • How to monitor contract expenditures.
  • Contract close-out methodology.
  • How to manage ethical and legal issues in the contingency contracting environment.
Content
  • Recognizing the COR’s responsibilities in acquisition mission support planning.
  • Understanding the contract award process.
  • Tracking contract expenditures.
  • Monitoring contract schedule compliance.
  • Analyzing proposed contract changes.
  • Identifying the unique characteristics and monitoring protocols for construction contracts, major systems and R & D acquisitions.
  • Evaluating a contractor’s compliance with performance terms and conditions.
  • Handling cultural taboos in a contingency environment.
  • The process for reporting bribery, kickbacks and other illegal acts.
Materials

Provided to each student are a printed guide book with supplemental learning material, exercises, case studies, and handouts, and exclusive web-based materials.

What Students Say About This Course

Here’s a small sampling of feedback from students who have attended Georgia Tech’s COR 206/222 course:

  • “I got detailed knowledge and understanding of COR and CO duties and responsibilities.  I now have the knowledge I need to perform as a COR.”
  • “A very well-taught course.”
  • “The instructors are very knowledgeable.”
  • “Professional training providing insights and practical examples.”
  • “I valued the exercises — they helped a lot!  A wonderful course!”
  • “Great course — great instructors!”
  • “Excellent instruction.”
  • “I valued the format, facilities, and the instructor’s expertise.”
  • “Invaluable information — a mix of academic and real-world views.  Outstanding job.”
  • “Great job.  The knowledge of the instructors was remarkable.”
Additional Information

DAU logoThe Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech (The Academy) is an approved equivalency training provider to the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) and provides continuing education training to Acquisition and Government Contracting professionals as well as to business professionals working for government contractors or pursuing opportunities in federal contracting.  This course is DAU-equivalent training satisfying both FAC-C and DAWIA certification programs.

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Architecture-engineer contracting course kicks-off Feb. 11th

The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech presents the Architect-Engineer Contracting course on the Midtown Atlanta campus February 11-15, 2019.

The course is ideal for both government contracting personnel as well as contractors looking for insights into the government contracting process for procuring architectural and engineering services.

CON 243: Architect-Engineer Contracting is a five-day course, focusing on issues across the contracting spectrum, including acquisition planning, source selection, proposal analysis, contract award and work, and contract management. Specific topics and practical exercises allow professionals to gain knowledge of the Selection of Architects and Engineers statute (formerly known as the Brooks Act), the Standard Form 330 for submitting credentials, the slate and selection process, review of government estimates, liability issues, Title II services, contract modifications, and responsibilities of the contracting officer’s representative (COR).  Students learn how to research proper application and interpretation of various regulations, including applicable Public Laws, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), the DFARS and other Agency Supplements to the FAR, and legal precedence.

This federal contracting course is approved by the Defense Acquisition University. Students who successfully complete the course receive credit toward the FAC-C and DAWIA certification programs.  Students also receive 3.5 CEUs from Georgia Tech.

Who Should Attend CON 243:

Contracting officers, contract specialists, contracting officer representatives, program/project managers, small business specialists, industry contracting personnel, architects and engineers.

How You Will Benefit:

Attendees learn how to:

  • Determine if the services require Selection of Architects and Engineers Statute procedures and how to identify the basic steps necessary for the requirement.
  • Distinguish how the project is to be advertised and determine what is to be contained in the advertisement.
  • Determine the elements necessary for performance work statements.
  • Evaluate firms and determining the order in which they will be ranked once service has been advertised and qualifications statements received,
  • Determine applicable cost principles specific to A-E contracting in order to prepare a Government estimate or review a proposal.
  • Recognize when and how a Government cost estimate for the project is developed.
  • Develop a strategy and negotiating the project given an A-E firm’s proposal and the Government estimate,
  • Distinguish how the Government maintains quality assurance on the contract after it has been awarded.
  • Analyze the roles and responsibilities of those charged with the management and administration of the contract after award.

Schedule and Registration for CON 243: Architect-Engineer Contracting – click here.

Related Course:

Don’t miss our Construction Contracting course coming up on Feb. 25th!  Details are here: https://pe.gatech.edu/courses/con-244-construction-contracting.

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Former COR and a contractor at Eglin Air Force Base plead guilty to conspiracy and bribery

Jerry T. Vertefeuille and Christopher A. Carter, both Florida residents, have pled guilty to conspiracy to commit theft of honest services and wire fraud as well as bribery of a public official. 

Vertefeuille also pleaded guilty to obtaining and disclosing procurement information.

The guilty pleas were announced on July 13, 2018 by Christopher P. Canova, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

Vertefeuille was a federal government contracting officer representative (COR) for the 96 Test Wing Maintenance Group (96 MXG) at Eglin Air Force Base.  His duties included overseeing maintenance work and initially approving purchases and invoices.

In 2007, Vertefeuille helped Carter, as the owner of TCC Services, Unlimited, LLC, win a paint booth maintenance contract, as well as multiple contract renewals, until 2014.  Vertefeuille received kickbacks in exchange for approving Carter’s fraudulent invoices and recommending the renewal of TCC’s contract.  An investigation later revealed that TCC and another contractor submitted invoices for payment to the U.S. Air Force for the same work.

For the conspiracy charge, the defendants face a maximum of 20 years in prison.  For bribery of a public official, they face a maximum of 15 years in prison.  For obtaining and disclosing procurement information, Vertefeuille also faces a maximum of 5 years in prison.  The sentencing hearings are scheduled for September 26 at the U.S. Courthouse in Pensacola.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Air Force Audit Agency, and Defense Criminal Investigative Service.  It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl/pr/business-owner-and-former-government-contracting-officer-representative-plead-guilty

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Plan now to attend the Contracting Officer Representative course in November

Contracting officer’s representatives, program/project managers, contracting officers, and industry contracting personnel — all should attend the Contracting Education Academy’s popular 5-day course offering entitled the Contracting Officer Representative and the Contingency Contracting Environment.
Students attending Georgia Tech’s classes work in teams to tackle real-life contracting problems.
Course Description

The Contracting Officer’s Representative course (COR 222), coupled with the Contingency Contracting Environment class (COR 206), provides a comprehensive review and detailed instruction on the role, responsibilities, authority, and limitations of authority of the federal government’s Contracting Officer Representative (COR).  Students learn the fundamentals of contracting regulations, types, phases, and other elements of contract administration.  Students are also coached on the ethical and legal factors that impact COR responsibilities in the normal course of business and in the Contingency Contracting Environment.

Upcoming Dates

The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech is offering the COR course (COR 222/206) on November 26-30, 2018.  This course is taught at Georgia Tech’s world-class Global Learning Center in midtown Atlanta.

Who Should Attend

Contracting officer’s representatives, program/project managers, contracting officers, and industry contracting personnel who interface with contracting officers and contracting officer’s representatives.

Registration

For details on how to register, please visit: https://pe.gatech.edu/courses/cor-206222-contracting-officer-representative-course-and-contingency-contracting-environment

How You Will Benefit

You will learn:

  • How to review contract terms and conditions.
  • Each party’s role and responsibility in contract administration.
  • Proper documentation and approvals for contract changes and modifications.
  • How to monitor contract expenditures.
  • Contract close-out methodology.
  • How to manage ethical and legal issues in the contingency contracting environment.
Content
  • Recognizing the COR’s responsibilities in acquisition mission support planning.
  • Understanding the contract award process.
  • Tracking contract expenditures.
  • Monitoring contract schedule compliance.
  • Analyzing proposed contract changes.
  • Identifying the unique characteristics and monitoring protocols for construction contracts, major systems and R & D acquisitions.
  • Evaluating a contractor’s compliance with performance terms and conditions.
  • Handling cultural taboos in a contingency environment.
  • The process for reporting bribery, kickbacks and other illegal acts.
Materials

Provided to each student are a printed guide book with supplemental learning material, exercises, case studies, and handouts, and exclusive web-based materials.

What Students Say About This Course

Here’s a small sampling of feedback from students who have attended Georgia Tech’s COR 206/222 course:

  • “I got detailed knowledge and understanding of COR and CO duties and responsibilities.  I now have the knowledge I need to perform as a COR.”
  • “A very well-taught course.”
  • “The instructors are very knowledgeable.”
  • “Professional training providing insights and practical examples.”
  • “I valued the exercises — they helped a lot!  A wonderful course!”
  • “Great course — great instructors!”
  • “Excellent instruction.”
  • “I valued the format, facilities, and the instructor’s expertise.”
  • “Invaluable information — a mix of academic and real-world views.  Outstanding job.”
  • “Great job.  The knowledge of the instructors was remarkable.”
Additional Information

DAU logoThe Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech (The Academy) is an approved equivalency training provider to the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) and provides continuing education training to Acquisition and Government Contracting professionals as well as to business professionals working for government contractors or pursuing opportunities in federal contracting.  This course is DAU-equivalent training satisfying both FAC-C and DAWIA certification programs.

Contracting Academy Logo
75 Fifth Street, NW, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30308
info@ContractingAcademy.gatech.edu
Phone: 404-894-6109
Fax: 404-410-6885

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