Covid-19 Contracts Worth $18 Billion Largely Noncompetitive

Federal agencies have obligated $17.8 billion in contracts, more than half of which were noncompetitive, to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic as of June 2020, with four departments and agencies accounting for 85% of obligations, according to a GAO report.

The Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Veterans Affairs have issued $15.1 billion in contracts, the Government Accountability Office said in a report issued Wednesday.

Agencies have obligated about $2.1 billion in contracts for biomedical research and vaccination development, the GAO said.

Of the $17.8 billion, 53% or $9.4 ...