By Greg Hazley
The Bannister Federal Complex in Kansas City did not follow federal contracting rules when it hired a PR agency on a $234K contract “in one day” amid news reports of contamination at the site last year, an inspector general’s memorandum from the U.S. General Services Administration said.
Federal officials overseeing the complex hired Jane Mobley Associates in February 2010 with an initial $100K pact to provide PR support for responding to complaints about health concerns and toxic substances at the site that began the previous November.
That contract was extended through May for an additional $134K in March.
The memo from regional GSA inspector general John Walsh, released Feb. 14, said the PR contract was directed to Mobley without adequate justification for limiting competition and without any indication as to why that firm was selected. It was awarded “in one day,” the report notes.
The report has drawn the ire of Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), who will take part in a subcommittee hearing March 1 on the issue.
“This raises serious concerns, and confirms that there needs to be more scrutiny on these public relations contracts,” McCaskill said. "I'm looking forward to the upcoming hearing so we can hear directly from those involved with this decision.
The regional commissioner of the U.S. Public Buildings Service, which administers the Bannister complex, cited “unusual and compelling circumstances” in directing contracting staff on Feb. 4, 2010 to hire a PR firm as media reports and multiple government agency investigations of health conditions at the complex were underway.
The inspector general’s report said PBS personnel told investigators that PBS does not have in-house expertise to address such media reports.
Among the tasks outlined in Mobley’s contract were message and materials development, stakeholder identification and communications.
Mobley was apparently hired on the recommendation of an Environmental Protection Agency employee, according to the report.
PBS officials said the firm was hired on an urgent need and the contract was properly awarded.
A request for comment was forwarded to MBA president Jane Mobley.
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