House Small Business Committee Chairman Sam Graves hopes to attach small business contracting legislation to the 2013 Defense Authorization Act, one of Congress’s few “must pass” bills.

The Small Business Committee has recommended a package of eight bills that would overhaul contracting rules. Among the provisions: increasing the small business contracting goal to 25%, from the current 23%; and withholding bonuses from senior executives when their agencies fail to meet the goals. (SAA, 3/23, 4/6)

Graves testified April 17 before the House Armed Services Committee, asking that the contracting bills be added to the authorization bill.

OMB and the Treasury Department have launched a new online tool to help prevent improper payments.

The website, at http://donotpay.treas.gov/, , brings together several databases and gives federal officials a single point to check lists of ineligible recipients.

OMB said contracting officers should continue to use the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS), but they are encouraged, but not required, to review the Do Not Pay site as well.

Technology companies including Microsoft have launched the Data Transparency Coalition to advocate for the standardization of federal data published online.

The group’s website, datacoalition.org, says, “Americans deserve easy access to their government’s information.”

The coalition supports the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA Act), which would provide a single online platform for reports by federal grantees, contractors and agencies.

A dozen investigators have been convicted in the past three years of falsifying background checks for security clearances, according to the U.S. attorney’s office for the District of Columbia. Many of them were contractors.

In the latest case, Bryan M. Marchand pleaded guilty to making a false statement. Federal prosecutors said he shortcut his background investigations by filing reports of interviews he never conducted.

Marchand was employed by United States Investigations Services, a contractor for the Office of Personnel Management.

A Missouri man has pleaded guilty to fraud and admitted he falsely claimed to be a service-disabled veteran in order to win federal contracts.

Warren Parker of Blue Springs, MO, acknowledged in court that his company, Silver Star Construction LLC, received $7.5 million in contracts intended for SDV companies.

Parker claimed to be a hero who won three Silver Stars, four Bronze Stars and three Purple Hearts for service in Vietnam. Prosecutors said he actually served in the Missouri National Guard and never left the state.

He faces up to 30 years in prison and forfeiture of $6.8 million in assets. Three codefendants are awaiting trial in the case.