July, 29 2010, 03:02pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Caitlin MacNeal,COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER,(202) 347-1122,cmacneal@pogo.org
Pentagon Shoots Down POGO's FOIA Regarding Government Contractor Database
WASHINGTON
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/
The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is an independent nonprofit that investigates and exposes corruption and other misconduct in order to achieve a more effective, accountable, open and honest federal government.
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