House Report: IRS Deputy IT Director Steered $500 Million in Contracts to Pal

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform yesterday released  Questionable Acquisitions: Problematic IT Contracting at the IRS (157 pages):

The IRS spends approximately $2 billion every year on information technology (IT) alone. The agency has over 400 dedicated employees who work on IT acquisition. Many vendors compete to do business with the IRS. Considering the large annual IRS investment in IT, any advantage in the contracting process gained by a particular vendor could prove very lucrative. The Committee found that one company—Strong Castle, Inc.—gained precisely such an advantage based on the relationship between the company’s CEO and an IRS contracting official. Strong Castle, Inc. was formerly known as Signet Computers. In January 2012 Braulio Castillo purchased Signet Computers and subsequently renamed the company Strong Castle, Inc. Except for specific references in documents, testimony, and discussion surrounding the purchase of the company, this report will refer to the company as Strong Castle.

The Committee learned of allegations concerning a series of contracts, potentially worth more than $500 million, awarded by the IRS to Strong Castle. Witnesses who contacted the Committee alleged that Strong Castle engaged in fraud to win those IRS contracts. Documents and testimony obtained by the Committee showed that a cozy relationship between Strong Castle President and Chief Executive Officer Braulio Castillo and IRS Deputy Director for IT Acquisition Greg Roseman may have influenced the selection process.

• Bloomberg, IRS Deputy Seen Aiding $500 Million in Contracts to Pal
• The Hill, Friendship May Have Greased Wheels for IRS Contracts
• Huffington Post, IRS Official Helped Strong Castle Win Millions In Contracts, New Report Alleges
• Reason, IRS Official Awarded $500 Million in Contracts to Friend of Official
• Reuters, House Republican Says IRS Awarded 'Inappropriate' Contracts