Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force Announces Four New National Law Enforcement Partners

The Justice Department announced today that the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) is adding four new national partners for a total of 38 agencies and offices committed to deterring, detecting, investigating and prosecuting antitrust crimes and related schemes that target government procurement, grants and program funding at all levels of government.

The new partners include three U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in districts with diverse government spending oversight priorities and proven PCSF and Antitrust Division relationships:

• U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska
• U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana
• U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey

The PCSF is also welcoming the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General (OIG), whose oversight of billions of dollars authorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science Act of 2022 closely aligns with PCSF priorities.

“Since 2019, the Procurement Collusion Strike Force has aggressively investigated and prosecuted crimes that undermine and distort the competitive process in taxpayer-funded procurements,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “With new investments in infrastructure, energy and hi-tech manufacturing the PCSF’ strategic expansion to include these four partners positions it to accomplish its important mandate more effectively.”

“Billions in federal funds are coming into our state to improve the lives of Alaskans, making it imperative that those tax dollars are used for their intended purpose and not illegally obtained,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “The implementation of the Procurement Collusion Strike Force in Alaska showcases my office’s commitment to take action against collusive conduct and related fraudulent schemes by individuals or corporations that threaten government spending destined to progress our great state.”

“We welcome the new partnership and expertise that the PCSF brings to our district,” said U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “Our office now has access to an important force multiplier, the investigatory strength and institutional knowledge of 37 fellow agencies and offices dedicated to enforcing antitrust laws and protecting the integrity of our government procurement programs. Indeed, it will become a formidable partnership laser-focused on deterring and prosecuting procurement fraud.”

“A level playing field and fair competition are vitally important to ensure that taxpayers are getting the best value for their money when government contacts are awarded,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “My office is proud to join this national effort to combat price-fixing, bid rigging, and any type of collusion or fraud in government procurement. Working with our investigative partners, we will hold accountable anyone who tries to corrupt the procurement process.”

“Preventing, detecting and defeating criminal activity related to federal procurement and grant programs is a high priority for Commerce OIG,” said Acting Inspector General Roderick Anderson of the Department of Commerce. “We are pleased to join this strike force and look forward to collaborating with our partners to enhance our collective efforts to combat antitrust violations, ensure integrity within government procurements and spending and maximize value for taxpayers.”

In November 2019, the Justice Department created the PCSF, a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government – federal, state and local. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.