Senior executives at the Office of Personnel Management steered consulting work to a company in violation of ethics and procurement rules, according to an interim report on an investigation by the agency’s Office of Inspector General.

The executives allegedly circumvented competition and pressured a small firm already under contract to award at least three subcontracting jobs to Stewart Liff, a management consultant, the OIG’s interim report stated.

“Our investigation revealed that (OPM) employees repeatedly contacted a small business with which OPM already had a contract, Information Experts Inc., and requested that Information Experts hire Mr. Liff for three specific projects,” the report said.

OPM officials said three of the executives involved no longer work at OPM and a fourth is on leave without pay pending the final report.

More information: OPM OIG interim report: http://goo.gl/WyqpQ