Defense Logistic Agency Energy (DLA-E), the arm of the Pentagon which oversees the Manas air base’s fuel contract, is reviewing the contents of the US Congressional report “Mystery at Manas” before deciding what to do next with Mina Corp, the shadowy and reticent company at the center of an elaborate procurement fraud.
On December 22, EurasiaNet.org asked DLA-E if they considered Mina Corp’s procurement of fuel using false end user certificates to be in line with agency directives and standards?A DLA spokeswoman said:
No, DLA does not consider false end user certificates to be in line with either applicable US laws and regulations or DLA directives and standards.
However the agency insists the Congressional report, which was released on December 21, had nothing to do with their decision to ask previous bidders to extend their offers until February 16, 2011.
The findings of the Congressional report had no bearing on DLA Energy's decision to ask offerors to extend their offer under the Manas solicitation.
But if it wasn’t the Congressional report, what was it that prompted DLA to ask bidders on December 16 to keep their bids open?
DLA said:
The uncertainty in that region, combined with the need to ensure an uninterrupted supply of fuel to support our war fighters, caused us to take a cautious approach. DLA Energy therefore asked several offerors to extend their offers in order for them to remain viable candidates in the event of any unexpected contingencies.
Yes, Central Asia is an uncertain region, and “unexpected contingencies” (like having a fraudulent end users certificate scheme collapse maybe?) are part of the hustle and bustle of daily life in Kyrgyzstan.
You just never know what’s going to happen next.
One day you are flipping burgers, the next you have an “institutionalized” hold on fuel supply to the Manas air base and Bagram in Afghanistan, soon after that you are dodging a subpoena.
Where will it all end?
Will Mina, who as DLA point out was engaged in a scheme that is not considered to be “in line with either applicable US laws and regulations or DLA directives and standards,” be stripped of their Manas fuel contract?
DLA, for now, says “No.”
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