An Insider’s Guide to Avoiding Procurement Fraud

Outright criminal procurement fraud is thankfully rare, but compliance issues in federal contracting often have legal ramifications. Good communication can help, according to David Robbins, a partner at D.C. law firm Crowell and Moring, and chief author of The Procurement Fraud Guidebook, published by the American Bar Association.

Federal government procurement fraud rules are complex and dense. Robbins wrote his book to offer an insider’s view of how to navigate the forbidding material, which can drive potential suppliers away from pursuing government contracts. He says the biggest issue for both industry and federal contracting officials is not being on the same page about what constitutes fraud, so it’s crucial for each to understand the stark difference between mistakes and out-and-out criminal activity.