1. Home
  2. |Insights
  3. |Mandatory Suspension/Debarment Review For "Poorly Performing" Contractors

Mandatory Suspension/Debarment Review For "Poorly Performing" Contractors

Client Alert | 1 min read | 03.23.10

In another sign that the government is increasing its focus on suspension and debarment, a February 2010 Department of Homeland Security IG report found that DHS has been reluctant to apply existing procedures against poorly performing contractors and recommended that DHS develop policies to determine whether to refer them to the suspension and debarment official when their contracts have been terminated for default or are being considered for default. DHS management concurred with the recommendation and will now require that contracting officers provide any determination of nonresponsibility to the S/D official when the determination is based in whole or part on the contractor's (1) lack of satisfactory performance record under DHS contracts; (2) lack of satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics; or (3) inability to qualify or ineligibility under applicable laws and regulations.

Insights

Client Alert | 4 min read | 07.22.26

FCPA and National Security Objectives Align: DOJ Announces First Settlement Related to Bribes That Benefited Mexican Cartels

On July 17, 2026, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it had entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) with The Scoular Company (Scoular), an agricultural supply chain company based in Omaha, Nebraska, to resolve allegations that Scoular relied on customs brokers to bribe Mexican government officials to allow Scoular goods to pass customs inspections and be delivered to Mexico from the United States. As part of its resolution, Scoular agreed to pay a $9,769,521 criminal penalty and forfeit an additional $414,351. Scoular also committed to continue cooperating with DOJ on any ongoing or future criminal investigations, implement a compliance and ethics program designed to prevent and detect violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and periodically report to DOJ on remediation and implementation of compliance measures throughout the term of the DPA....

View All Insights