NASA OIG agents raid construction contractor

Photo Credit: Michael Deep / SpaceFlight Insider

TITUSVILLE, Fla. — When one thinks of NASA, one usually doesn’t think of raids by federal agents. However, a report appearing on Thursday, July 7, in the Orlando Sentinel, as well as on Fox35, has detailed how just such a raid took place. 

According to a report issued on Fox35, NASA’s Office of Inspector General, the organization tasked with investigating alleged crimes against the agency, was seen leaving the offices of SDB Engineering and Constructors Inc., with computer towers and “tens of thousands of documents in boxes”. The report stated that during the day-long raid, one box was clearly marked “payroll”.

The raid was conducted under a search warrant that was issued but, according to Fox35, the reason for the raid was not disclosed by NASA OIG.

SDB Engineering and Constructors Inc. was involved with projects at Kennedy Space Center’s massive Vehicle Assembly Building as well as projects at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Space Launch Complexes 37 and 41 where Colorado-based United Launch Alliance (ULA) lofts its Delta IV and Atlas V families of rockets from.

Additionally, SDB has contracts with the U.S. Air Force, SpaceX, ULA, and the now-closed United Space Alliance – which had helped to service and launch the Space Shuttle.

Fox35 noted that SDB is a subcontractor for Vencore, which had a $1.9 billion contract audited by NASA’s OIG in May 2016. Among the things the company was criticized for was a lack of cost controls for its work.

Tagged: Lead Stories NASA

Jason Rhian

Jason Rhian spent several years honing his skills with internships at NASA, the National Space Society and other organizations. He has provided content for outlets such as: Aviation Week & Space Technology, Space.com, The Mars Society and Universe Today.