Record 230 Barred as Defense Contractors

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon’s war against contracting fraud led to a record number of debarments during the first half of fiscal 1987, with 230 individuals or companies losing their right to bid on defense contracts, the Defense Department said Thursday.

Another 204 individuals or companies received temporary contract suspensions during the six months ending March 31, the Pentagon’s inspector general said in a report to Congress.

The previous high for debarments during a six-month period was set during the last half of fiscal 1986, when 222 individuals or companies lost their right to bid on Pentagon contracts.

The inspector general’s report disclosed also that Pentagon and Army Corps of Engineers auditors had saved the government more than $2.3 billion during the period by challenging questionable awards or practices.