You may have heard a whisper here, or a rumor there that Special Operations Technologies and their owner Jim Cragg had been debarred from federal contracting. Well, the truth of the matter is that they were on GSA’s Excluded Parties List System which serves as a clearing house for debarred parties but they’re not there anymore.
They were placed on the list on 1 September of this year in a proposed status and removed just over two months later after it was determined by the Army’s Suspension and Debarment Official that they should not be debarred. SOTech’s owner was a federal witnesses against Joseph Marak and somehow was inadvertently placed on the debarment lost along with Marak and the prosecution’s other main witness Skedco. Both Marak and Skedco thus far remain on the list, although, it’s highly unlikely Marak will be removed based on his fraud conviction.
After speaking with the Army’s SDO, we found out it’s not that hard to be placed on the list. It seems, if somebody accuses you of wrongdoing, or just makes a clerical error, the Government places you on the same list as those that have been debarred for cause. You sit in a proposed status during the investigation. Not only are you in the same database as those who are debarred for cause, you can’t compete for Government contracts until they take you off the list. Doesn’t matter how innocent you are, you look guilty. Until the investigation is complete, you look like a crook.
Fortunately for SOTech they only sat in limbo for two months. Now, they are back in the mix.
Look for an article next week where we take a look at how this happened and how the system is flawed to the point that a company must pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees in order to stay in business and clear their name.
In the meantime, check out the Excluded Parties List System for yourself. www.epls.gov
Tags: S.O.Tech
The real causes for this list are things like fraud, right? Glad SOTech s back in the clear. That is very uncool.
The government could do a better job supporting small businesses especially considering the number of niche market items developed by these businesses. Kill those with big business legal fees and we are going to lose out on a lot of innovation.
Well at least that’s efficient and no innocent parties can lose contracts or suffer in their business for no good reason…oh, wait…
Nobody should get on that list unless they deserve it – to be put on there and assumed guilty until proven innocent is total B.S.
SSD: GRACIAS for providing this concise and accurate SITREP!
There is always a reason for people and/or companies being put on the EPLS listing. It does not accidently happen. You don’t accidentally stay on the list for 2 months either. If SOTECH was placed on the EPLS listing as a result of some horrific error, why has the government not issued a heartfelt written apology? I am sure SOTECH would have posted such a document as proof of their innocence. If this was such a grievous, dastardly act perpetrated by DLA, why has SOTECH not made public the fact they are pursuing litigation? If anyone saw SOTECH’s listing, they were listed with other companies and people who continue to be on the list or in prison…….Did they end up on the as a part of an error or in prison as a result of the same government goatf**k? Coincidence? I think not. Sooner or later the TRUTH comes out.
I can tell by your response that you don’t understand the debarment process. Fortunately, I’m working on an article that will explain it. Hopefully, it will clear up any misconceptions you might have.
As for what actions SOTech may or may not be taking, that is up to them to determine when and how they release information pertaining to such matters.
And finally, you allude to having some information regarding SOTech and their case. I know I certainly want the truth to come out and you seem to want this as well. So, if you have such info please send it me. Otherwise, quite frankly, you sound like you have an axe to grand.