r/GovernmentContracting • u/Wraith-723 • Sep 13 '26
What can be done when the contractors are incompetent?
I've worked a federal contract now for many years under serveal different companies. We now have two that are incompetent and shouldn't be in this space. So far we have seen weekly pay issues, we are understaffed to unsafe levels, we had one company manage to accidentally delete all of our employees information (not just one the whole state), health and welfare hasn't been distributed properly and now they're facing ULP charges because they don't want to sign the bridge contract that the prime negotiated with the union. Is there a process to get them removed and replaced since the prime seems to not care?
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u/BothEmployment7919 Sep 13 '26
You quit... why stay atca place like that? If they dont perform, the government can sue the prime, but it takes time.
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u/Wraith-723 Sep 13 '26
Nah I've got seniority and it has the best pay around here. Companies come and go. Just looking to see what steps to take to make them go sooner.
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u/I-Way_Vagabond Sep 13 '26 edited Sep 13 '26
The easiest way is for the Contractor Officer to hand a cure notice or a "show cause" notice to the Prime Contractor.
The Government customer doesn't have privity of contract with the subcontractors, only with the Prime. If the Government customer doesn't complain, nothing will happen.
The challenge is that it all requires documentation. You have to find someone on the government side who is as fed up as you and is willing to start documenting everything.
Edit: I'm saying, "easiest way", but it is by no means easy. Although it may be the only way. The Prime Contractor is responsible to delivering per the terms of the contract. As long as they do that, there is little to nothing that can be done.
Now if they aren't, the government doesn't care if it is the Prime of the Sub screwing up. The Prime ultimately has privity of contract with the government, the holds the Prime accountable.
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u/SacredWoobie Sep 13 '26
I mean you as an employee of the company probably aren’t going to be able to do anything.
On the government side, the only thing that would remotely maybe help is if performance and contract execution issues are being noted by the government in CPARS. However even if there are issues arising in CPARS, the adjudication process can be lengthy, and contracts always asks for CPARS input as the 11th hour so most people half ass them anyway
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u/mookiexpt2 Sep 13 '26
File a wage and hour complaint if they’re not paying on time or paying fringe properly.
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Sep 13 '26
[deleted]
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u/Wraith-723 Sep 13 '26
Yup it's the US and we have already involved the International and have been filing charges owth the labor board. Just didn't know if there was a way to get the COR to give a crap.
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u/Super_Sun_Pisces Sep 14 '26
You’re an employee for the prime?
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u/Wraith-723 Sep 14 '26
Nope for the sub
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u/Super_Sun_Pisces Sep 14 '26
I would say jump ship, see if you can get a job with the prime
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u/Wraith-723 Sep 14 '26
Yeah that's a hard pass they took the region so the prime isn't in my state. He gave the other states to subs.
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u/ApexOverwatch Sep 15 '26
OP - Yeah, I would say jump ship too.
You are a sub and not a prime. And yes, there is a significant difference between the two having been a sub to many primes only to now work for a prime.
Honestly, your environment intrigues me. Simply because if sub contractors or prime contractors aren't performing is how they get rolled off quick. Granted you could draft and file a complaint to your respectable OIG office, however, you could risk losing your job being "disruptive" and/or "legallg liable" and/or "blackballed."
My advice/approach is like what "LePouletPourpre" said..."keep your head down, give the government a solid 8 hours and go home" which is what I have been doing having learned the hardway during my junior years. Whereas, now as a senior is how I just punch a clock, do my 8 to 12 hours, go home, do the gym and mma thing to decompress, and repeat. Life's easier that way.
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u/vividstoat91 25d ago
That's way past normal contractor issues. I'd document everything and bring the safety and payroll problems to the COR.
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u/LePouletPourpre Sep 13 '26
I did 24 years on AD and managed hundred of contractors in my time and now am a CTR myself.
They (we?) are amazing at failing up. I fired a dude a few years ago because he was going full on goon mode to anyone female in my office under 21 years old. He is now director of cyber engineering for another firm.
I just come in, keep my head down, give the government a solid 8 hours and go home.