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About POGO's Federal Contractor Misconduct Database (FCMD)

The government awards contracts to companies with histories of misconduct such as contract fraud and environmental, ethics, and labor violations. In the absence of a centralized federal database listing instances of misconduct, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is providing such data. We believe that it will lead to improved contracting decisions and public access to information about how the government spends hundreds of billions of taxpayer money each year on goods and services. Report an instance of misconduct »

Ranking: 94

Mission Essential Personnel, LLC

Mission Essential Personnel (MEP) provides translation services, interpreters and cultural advisors, and intelligence support services to the U.S. Department of Defense, intelligence agencies and international development organizations.

Federal Contract $: $ 690.9m

Total Number of Instances: 2

Total Misconduct dollar amount: $ 0.0m

Instances of Misconduct

1. Funk v. Mission Essential Personnel (Unqualified Translators)

Former Mission Essential Personnel employee Paul Funk filed a False Claims Act lawsuit alleging the company was supplying the Army with unqualified foreign language translators in Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008. Funk alleged MEP gave passing grades on language exams to applicants who failed meet the Army’s proficiency standards or otherwise had poor skills in the Pashto and Dari languages. Funk also claimed the company retaliated against him. In February 2011, according to a press release issued by MEP, the lawsuit was dismissed as the result of “a confidential negotiated agreement under which MEP will not make any payment to the Relator or the United States regarding the False Claims Act fraud allegations.” The lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice as to the United States.... more»

2. Worldwide Language Resources v. Mission Essential Personnel (Unfair Competition)

Worldwide Language Resources, Inc. (WWLR), a government contractor that provides linguistic support services to the U.S. military in Afghanistan, filed a lawsuit against its direct competitor, Mission Essential Personnel, alleging breach of contract, unfair competition, and tortuous interference with a contract. WWLR accused MEP of engaging in a scheme to “raid” WWLR’s linguists in Afghanistan in July and August 2008. The lawsuit was settled in 2010.... more»