ABUSE

DoD SBIR/STTR Training

Who's responsible for abuse?

 

ABUSE

DoD SBIR/STTR Training

What is Abuse?

Abuse is the intentional or improper use of government resources that can include the excessive or improper use of one's position, in a manner contrary to its rightful or legally intended use. 

Individuals who abuse DoD resources include DoD civilian employees and individual service members.

What contributes to abuse?

Corruption is the greatest contributor of abuse. It is the misuse of entrusted power. 

There are 3 types of abuse. What are they?

ABUSE

DoD SBIR/STTR Training

ABUSE

DoD SBIR/STTR Training

Misuse of Position

Government personnel using their position for personal benefit. 

Type 1

Examples

Misuse of rank, position, or authority in awarding SBIR contracts for personal benefit or to particular companies who do not provide the best value. 

Negotiating for employment with a company that the government employee has an interesting in or with, while awarding them an SBIR contract. 

Misuse of DoD resources such as tools, vehicles, or computers. 

ABUSE

DoD SBIR/STTR Training

Accepting Bribes or Gifts

Acceptance by agency personnel of bribes or gifts in exchange for grant or contract awards. 

Type 2

Examples

Giving or receiving anything of value to influence an award and that prevents the government from getting the best value. 

Acceptance of gifts from a vendor or contractor. 

Government personnel using their official duties to garner personal or financial gain. 

Government personnel solicitating bribes from small businesses, either directly or through financial transactions between a small business and another business the government official has a financial interest in.

ABUSE

DoD SBIR/STTR Training

Providing Information to Preferred Vendors

Government officials providing information to companies that give them an unfair advantage over other potential vendors. 

Type 3

Examples

Providing proprietary government information to one or more small businesses. 

Government personnel providing a favored vendor with advantageous information during the proposal process.

A small business is close to a government official, or directly participated in drafting the solicitation specs.

ACTIVITY

DoD SBIR/STTR Training

Fill in the blank with the correct type of abuse for each example

Hint: main types of abuse are Misuse of position, Accepting bribes or gifts, Providing information to preferred vendors

Negotiating employment with a company that the government employee has an interesting in, while awarding them a SBIR contract.
Type of abuse:
Contracting personnel providing a favored contractor with information in the SBIR proposal process.
Type of abuse:
Giving or receiving anything of value to influence an award and that prevents the government from getting the best value.
Type of abuse:
A contractor works directly with a government official in drafting the SBIR research topic and solicitation.
Type of abuse:

Complete the activity to continue.

CHERYL JOHNSON  | Federal Employee

DoD - SBIR/STIR Program

ABUSE CASE STUDY

DoD SBIR/STTR Training

Responsibility: approve and monitor the progress of phase II proposals.

 

Zox Inc., a small business attempting to receive an SBIR phase II contract, reached out to Cheryl about their phase II proposal. They offer her a kickback of 10% of the total contract value to guarantee that they will receive a contract. She agrees to do what she can to make sure that Zox Inc. is awarded a contract, as she is part of the review process for their proposal.

CHERYL JOHNSON  | Federal Employee

DoD - SBIR/STIR Program

ABUSE CASE STUDY

DoD SBIR/STTR Training

Responsibility: approve and monitor the progress of phase II proposals.

 

Zox Inc. receives the phase II contract and pays Cheryl by gifting her a series of prepaid credit cards. Cheryl thought that this would be the best way for her to get the money, without it going in her personal bank account. She spends the money on the credit cards and assumes that she was able to get away with accepting the kickbacks.

CHERYL JOHNSON  | Federal Employee

DoD - SBIR/STIR Program

ABUSE CASE STUDY

DoD SBIR/STTR Training

Responsibility: approve and monitor the progress of phase II proposals.

 

Another SBIR employee, responsible for monitoring Zox Inc.’s progress on their phase II work, notices some inconsistencies in the hours Zox invoiced the government. Further investigation reveals that inflated hours were meant to hide the money that Zox gave to Cheryl as part of the kickback scheme. Cheryl was fired from her job as a result of the investigation. Zox Inc. is barred from doing work with the government for several years.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

DoD SBIR/STTR Training

1. Government officials may not provide a preferred vendor information that gives them an advantage over other businesses during the proposal process.

2. Agency personnel can accept gifts from vendors or contractors.

3. Government personnel may use their rank, position, or authority for personal benefit.

Complete the questions to continue.



TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

DoD SBIR/STTR Training

4. A government employee can negotiate employment with a company, while awarding them an SBIR contract.

5. Government personnel should not provide small businesses _____________ during a contract award.

6. A small business close to a government official should help draft an SBIR research topic.

Complete the questions to continue.



You've finished the lesson on Abuse

Congratulations!