WASHINGTON - July 29 - POGO just learned that the Department of Defense (DoD) rejected our Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for the data contained in the government's new contractor performance and responsibility database, the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS).

DoD said the information contained in FAPIIS is exempt from release "in its entirety" under FOIA exemption (b)(5), which covers "inter-agency or intra-agency memoranda or letters which would not be available by law to a party other than an agency in litigation with the agency." According to DoD, "FAPIIS information is considered source selection sensitive and therefore not publicly releasable."

"POGO believes the public has a right to know the backgrounds of federal contractors. Most of the information in the database comes from public sources. It appears the only reason to conceal the contractors' rap sheets is to protect them from embarrassment. POGO will therefore appeal this denial," stated Scott Amey, POGO's general counsel.

POGO's federal contractor database can be found here: www.contractormisconduct.org/