From a March 10, 2010 Valerie Strauss column from the Washington Post. Strauss covers the education beat for the Post and couldn't figure out why the Department of Education was buying 27 shotguns.
Why is the Education Department purchasing 27 Remington Brand Model 870 police 12-gauge shotguns (all new, no re-manufactured products, thank you)?Fraud investigations.
The guns are to replace old firearms used by Education’s Office of Inspector General, which is the law enforcement arm of the department.
Here’s a statement from the office in response to a question about why need 27 shotguns with a 14-inch barrels:
“The Office of Inspector General is the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Department of Education and is responsible for the detection of waste, fraud, abuse, and other criminal activity involving Federal education funds, programs, and operations. As such, OIG operates with full statutory law enforcement authority, which includes conducting search warrants, making arrests, and carrying firearms. The acquisition of these firearms is necessary to replace older and mechanically malfunctioning firearms, and in compliance with Federal procurement requirements. For more information on OIG’s law enforcement authority, please visit their Web site at : www.ed.gov/oig”
You can find, here, a list of reports on fraud cases the office has worked on for the last decade.
I asked department officials for specific examples of when the rifles might be used, but was referred to the above statement. Perhaps agents need some muscle while apprehending folks charged with fraud.
Here's a link to an 11-page document from the Department of Justice with guidelines for the Offices of Inspector Generals within federal government department that have been given law enforcement authority. It provides detail about firearm training is to be carried out and under what circumstances authorized personnel can engage in law enforcement activities.
Below is the original soliciation request for the shotguns:
Solicitation Number:
EDOOIG-10-000004
Notice Type:
Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
Synopsis:
Added: Mar 08, 2010 10:39 am
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) intends to purchase twenty-seven (27) REMINGTON BRAND MODEL 870 POLICE 12/14P MOD GRWC XS4 KXCS SF. RAMAC #24587 GAUGE: 12 BARREL: 14" - PARKERIZED CHOKE: MODIFIED SIGHTS: GHOST RING REAR WILSON COMBAT; FRONT - XS CONTOUR BEAD SIGHT STOCK: KNOXX REDUCE RECOIL ADJUSTABLE STOCK FORE-END: SPEEDFEED SPORT-SOLID - 14" LOP are designated as the only shotguns authorized for ED based on compatibility with ED existing shotgun inventory, certified armor and combat training and protocol, maintenance, and parts.The required date of delivery is March 22, 2010. Interested sources must submit detailed technical capabilities and any other information that demonstrates their ability to meet the requirements above, no later than March 12, 2010 at 12 PM, E.S.T. Any quotes must be submitted electronically to the attention of Holly.Le@ed.gov, Contract Specialist (Contract Operations Group), with a concurrent copy to Sherese.Lewis@ed.gov, Contracting Officer (Contract Operations Group).The following clauses are applicable to this requirement:
52-212-1 Instruction to Offerors - Commercial Items52.212-2 Evaluation - Commercial Items 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required Implementing Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items
In accordance with 52.212-2, the fill-in applicable to this requirement is below:52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items. As prescribed in 12.301(c), the Contracting Officer may insert a provision substantially as follows: Evaluation-Commercial Items (Jan 1999) (a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: (i) Technical Capability(ii) PriceIn accordance with 52.212-5, the following clauses are applicable to this requirement:52.225-1 Buy American Act - Supplies (February 2009)52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central
New equipment only; no remanufactured products. No partial shipments Offer must be good for 30 calendar days after submission.Offerors must have current Central Contractor Registration (CCR) at the time offer is submitted. Information can be found at www.ccr.gov.This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items. The Government will award a commercial item purchase order to the offeror with the most advantageous offer to the government. All offerors must submit their best price and delivery capabilities.
Place of Delivery: U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General
The Department of Education sends in the SWAT to serve search warrants in fraud cases.
Because people accused of fraud are notorious for having huge weapons caches and cutting the heads off of Federales who interfere with their operations.
No...that's Mexican drug cartels.
Here is a list of investigations that the DoE OIG worked on in 2011
Educational Testing Service Pays $1.4 Million to Settle Allegations of Improper Billing. Trenton NJ., May 25, 2011Apart from the beauty school investigation, none of the rest look like they called for SWAT.
Two Former Executives of Athletic Equipment Company Charged With Extensive Fraud on New Jersey Schools. Newark NJ., May 11, 2011
The Former Superintendent of Glendale, PA School District Pleads Guilty to Federal Program Theft. Johnstown PA., May 09, 2011
Quincy Man Jailed for Lying on Student Loan Application. Boston, MA., May 09, 2011
Three Sentenced for Stealing, Laundering Over $500.000 from Ney Jersey University. Newark, NJ., April 26, 2011
Ash Flat Tax Preparers Found Guilty On Multiple Tax and Fraud Charges. Little Rock AR., April 26, 2011
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Charges Beauty School Owner and Six Others With Conspiring to Fraudulently Obtain Federal Financial Aid . New York, NY., April 21, 2011
Board President and Chief Executive Officer of Philadelphia Charter School Charged with Fraud. Philadelphia PA., April 14, 2011
Former University President Indicted for Embezzling $1.5 Million. Kansas City, MO., March 31, 2011
Jersey City Man Pleads Guilty to Scheme to Steal Money from Ney Jersey City University. Newark, NJ., March 29, 2011
International Businessman James Simon Sentenced. Huntertown, IN., March 29, 2011
Former Employee of Compton Community College Charged with Stealing Federal Student Aid Money. Los Angeles, CA., March 22, 2011
Former Iona College Vice President of Finance Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Count to Embezzlement. New York, NY., March 09, 2011
Leader of Federal Student Loan Fraud Ring Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft. Sacramento, CA., February 28, 2011
Southern University Professor Indicted. Baton Rouge, LA., February 24, 2011
New Jersey Man Sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court for Stealing Social Security Benefits. New York, NY., February 08, 2011
District Man Pleads Guilty To Charges In Failed Scheme to Deceive a Federal Judge. Washington, DC., February 8, 2011
South Portland Man Sentenced for Harboring and Transporting Illegal Aliens and Tax Fraud. Bangor, ME., February 04 2011
ASH FLAT Tax Preparers Indicted on Multiple Tax and Fraud Charges. Little Rock, AR., February 2, 2011
Former Beauty School Owners Pay U.S. Nearly $5 Million to Settle Civil Claims. Chicago, IL., January 19, 2011
Michael Cortez, Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced To Prison for Student Loan Fraud. Cedar Rapids, IA., January 14, 2011
Cory Alan Bailey, Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced To Prison for Student Loan Fraud. Cedar Rapids, IA., January 3, 2011
Amazing.
Maybe having your own Gestappo is a bureaucratic status symbol, like having a limousine.
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