» 2010 » January Ms Sparky

KBR’s LOGCAP managers capitalize on captive clientele

Posted on: January 20th, 2010 at 10:57 am — by Ms Sparky

If you’ve been reading MsSparky.com very long you know I have previously blogged about KBR managers who have purchased, in whole or part, hotel/bar businesses in Thailand. And then blatantly and arrogantly hand out business cards and fliers in an effort to solicit clientele for said business.

Below is just one example, the business cards of a KBR TTM (Transportation) Manager named Donald Vannoy and his Get Away Guest House in Pattaya, Thailand. When I started asking around about this specific manager and hotel I received this anonymous email: (Read the rest of the story here…)

Uncle Sam wants you…..to pay your damn taxes or “No contracts for you!”

Posted on: January 20th, 2010 at 8:51 am — by Ms Sparky

It would be nice if these multi-billion dollar defense contractors had to follow the same laws the rest of us do!!

Obama cracking down on contractor tax cheats

January 20, 2010 at 9:09 AM

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is ordering a new crackdown on federal contractors who don’t pay their taxes.

He was signing an executive order Wednesday telling federal agency chiefs to take steps to bar those companies from receiving new government contracts. Obama was also directing the IRS to review contractor filings to ensure the companies are not lying about the taxes they’ve paid.

“It is simply wrong for companies to take taxpayer dollars and not be taxpayers themselves,” Obama said in his prepared remarks. “We need to insist on the same sense of responsibility in Washington that so many of you strive to uphold in your own lives, in your own families and in your own businesses.”

A White House fact sheet said the move is part of the president’s effort to restructure government contracting to root out waste and abuse.

That effort has included measures to end no-bid contracts and to crack down on what the administration deems improper payments. Administration officials estimate the measures saved as much as $100 billion last year. (Read the rest of the story here…)

Posted in GOV. CONTRACTORS, Politics. Tags: DoD Contractors, Political Leaders, Politics. 4 Comments »

New meaning to “Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition”

Posted on: January 19th, 2010 at 10:11 am — by Ms Sparky

As far as I am concerned, this has absolutely nothing to do with religion and has everything to do with the fact the Defense Department IS NOT in control of it’s contractors and continues to reward contractual noncompliance with more contracts.

Michigan defense contractor has God in its sights

By RICHARD LARDNER
Associated Press
January 19, 2010

WASHINGTON(AP) – Combat rifle sights used by U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan carry references to Bible verses, stoking concerns about whether the inscriptions break a government rule that bars proselytizing by American troops.

Military officials said the citations don’t violate the ban and they won’t stop using the telescoping sights, which allow troops to pinpoint the enemy day or night. (Read the rest of the story here…)

Posted in GOV. CONTRACTORS, Reports & Investigations. Tags: DoD Contractors, Trijicon. 24 Comments »

Defense contractors must now air dirty deeds in public

Posted on: January 17th, 2010 at 7:18 am — by Ms Sparky

Defense contractors such as KBR can no longer hide behind the closed doors of secret binding arbitration for serious issues such as discrimination, harassment, rape and assault. No longer with KBR and others be able to violate Title VII Laws and then just sweep them under the rug behind closed doors. Those abusive criminal managers who have been in place for years are finally going to cost them some money and Heather Browne, KBR’s Communications Director is going to be working overtime. Well done, Jamie Leigh Jones and thank you Al Franken for taking these issue seriously. Hopefully this is just the first in a series of laws to protect defense contractor employees.

For those who respond to every dispute or disagreement here on MsSparky.com with “You signed a contract”. You can’t sign away law! (Read the rest of the story here…)

Posted in Agility/PWC/GCC, Combat Support Ass. (CSA), Franken Amendment*, GOV. CONTRACTORS, LOGCAP III - KBR, LOGCAP-Dyncorp, LOGCAP-Fluor, Rape, Hazing, Discrimination & Harassment, Security Contractors, Stanley Baker Hill (SBH), TENG & Assoc. Tags: DynCorp*, Employee Issues-KBR, Fluor*, Franken Amendment*, Jamie Leigh Jones. 9 Comments »

Hypothetically speaking; Would KBR be liable if….

Posted on: January 15th, 2010 at 4:07 pm — by Ms Sparky

I’ll bet there is not one current or former KBR employee who does not know of at least one KBR LOGCAP manager who has committed some sort of crime or contract violation. Many have never been punished. Crimes can vary from basic General Order 1 (GO1) violations such as drinking alcohol on base, having sexual relationships with subordinates, subcontract workers or the client, or TIPs violations such as soliciting prostitution on base, in Dubai, Thailand or the Philippines etc. Then there are the crimes of fraud, theft, bribery, assault, sexual assault, harassment and discrimination. These managers were not charged or prosecuted for contract violations and crimes primarily because they were never reported to the client. I doubt seriously it was even reported to Houston. A few lower level managers and non managers have been convicted of crimes. That must have clearly been accidental on the part of the DoD.

Not only were these managers not prosecuted. They were not fired. They were either transferred around until they quit or were asked to resign. “What’s the problem with that?” you ask. Their resume is a lie. Their new hiring company has no idea what happened at KBR and now these managers take those undesirable behavior patterns and management styles to their new company. And then they surround themselves with their cohorts in crime. No charges were filed, so security clearances are granted without a problem. (Read the rest of the story here…)

Posted in Agility/PWC/GCC, GOV. CONTRACTORS, Indictments, Convictions & Arrests, LOGCAP III - KBR, LOGCAP-Dyncorp, LOGCAP-Fluor, Rape, Hazing, Discrimination & Harassment, Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Violations. Tags: DFAR, Discrimination, FAR, Harassment, Human Trafficking, LOGCAP Managers, Rape, Sexual Harassment, Thailand. 12 Comments »

Cost plus….minus oversight breeds corruption

Posted on: January 14th, 2010 at 10:12 am — by Ms Sparky

There is nothing in this video I feel is not 100% accurate. And this is the tip of the iceberg. I have been told time and again, KBR’s plan from the beginning was to maximize LOGCAP….spend spend spend. I saw it with my own two eyes!! So who’s fault is it really?

The DoD turned these contractors loose in the LOGCAP candy store with no supervision and no accountability. It would take some very strong moral character and professional ethics to not grab a handful from the candy jar. These contractors knew they could probably get away with it and so far….they have. The chances that corporate execs like KBR’s Bruce Stanski or one of his “boyz” will do jail time for this is improbable. I have a better chance of winning the lottery than Bruce Stanski being indicted, let alone convicted. (Read the rest of the story here…)

Posted in GOV. CONTRACTORS, Indictments, Convictions & Arrests, LOGCAP III - KBR, Senate & House Committee Hearings. Tags: KBR Investigations, Senate/House Hearings*. No Comments »

Employees frustrated with LOGCAP IV transition in Afghanistan

Posted on: January 13th, 2010 at 1:35 pm — by Ms Sparky

Logistics Civilian Augmentation Program (LOGCAP) Logo

I’ve received several emails looking for clarification on different LOGCAP IV transition issues in Afghanistan.

One of the biggest complaints I’m hearing is about employees incurring airfare costs upon demob with Fluor and Dyncorp.

KBR employees have enjoyed the freedom of not paying for airfare on demob no matter when they demob’d. I’ve heard of KBR employees flying into Baghdad International Airport (BIAP), immediately deciding Iraq was not for them and heading home on that very same plane. All the while not incurring any of the costs to mobilize them. I have never heard of a KBR employee being charged for airfare on demob even if they were fired. It could have happened, I’ve just never heard of it.

From what I understand, KBR’s LOGCAP III contract states something along the lines of….if a new hire demobs prior to 180 days of being in country (mobilization), KBR will incur the costs to replace that employee. It’s apparent to me the Army was not enforcing this portion of KBR’s contract. I believe KBR was practicing their “let’s just do it ’til we get caught” management style. I find it highly unlikely KBR would pay out their own pocket to send the average everyday KBR employee home. Managers might be a different story. KBR was making money on every mobilization having NO INCENTIVE to establish any kind of employee retention program allowing the worst of the worst managers to float to the top. (Read the rest of the story here…)