Congressman wants probe of no-bid contract

The Clarion-Ledger:

KATRINA -- CRONYISM SUSPECTED IN NO BID CONTRACT TO ALASKA FIRM:

Rep. Bernie Thompson (D-MS) has called for a federal investigation into a $40 million no-bid Homeland Security Department contract awarded to a company based in Alaska to repair hurricane-battered schools in Mississippi. Officials with the firm, Akima, "acknowledge the company has no experience supplying portable classrooms for the federal government," though Akima's parent company "<>is well-versed in lobbying and politics in Washington." It is represented by Blank Rome, a top lobbying firm whose CEO, David Girard-diCarlo, was former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge's fundraiser when Ridge was governor of Pennsylvania. Blank Rome's lobbyist bullpen includes "Mark Holman, a former deputy presidential assistant at Homeland Security, and Ashley Davis, who served as a Homeland Security assistant to Ridge." Akima "is going to make $20 million off the deal," Thompson points out. "They're selling trailers for $88,000, but you can buy them off any lot for $42,000."