State Department Improperly Barred Iraq Contractor, Lawsuit Says

Acuity-CHS Middle East LLC says the US Department of State improperly determined that the company has an organizational conflict of interest that bars it from providing services to US personnel.

The department’s contracting officer found that an “impaired objectivity” conflict exists because the Medical Services Support—Iraq contract requires performing drug tests on personnel with Acuity’s sister company. The sister company, Janus Global Operations LLC, is performing a security services contract, according a partially redacted complaint that the US Court of Federal Claims made public Wednesday.

But there’s “no obvious reason” why licensed medical practitioners administering drug tests would be incentivized ...