The U.S. Department of Justice has broadened the scope and resources of its Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) by incorporating four national partners. With these new additions, the PCSF now consists of 38 agencies.
According to a press release from the Justice Department, the PCSF was established in 2019 with a mission to combat antitrust crimes that target federal, state, and local government procurement, grants, and program funding. The member agencies work collaboratively to deter, detect, investigate, and prosecute these crimes.
The press release also reveals that the entities which joined the PCSF in April include U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana, and U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. The Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General was also welcomed into the fold; this body oversees billions of dollars authorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science Act of 2022.
Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter from the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division stated in the press release that since its inception, the PCSF has actively initiated investigations leading to prosecutions for crimes that "undermine and distort the competitive process." Kanter said that with new investments in infrastructure, energy, and hi-tech manufacturing sectors, the PCSF's strategic expansion including these four partners positions it to fulfill its crucial 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," Tucker was quoted as saying in the press release.
Acting Inspector General Roderick Anderson from the Department of Commerce stated in the press release: "Preventing, detecting and defeating criminal activity related to federal procurement and grant programs is a high priority for Commerce OIG. 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."
