Murtech, Inc is owned by Robert C. Murtha Jr., nephew of U.S. Congressman John Murtha. Murtech has been awarded several government contracts to provide support for Pentagon programs testing programs "that focus on detecting chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats."Washington Post: Murtha's Nephew Got Defense Contract (May 5, 2009)
On May 5, 2009, reports surfaced that Congressman Murtha allegedly used his position as chairman of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee to award government defense contracts to Murtech.Washington Post: Murtha's Nephew Got Defense Contract (May 5, 2009)
Government Contracts
According to a May 5, 2009 report in the Washington Post, Murtech's primary source of income for several years had been government defense contracts and has seventeen employees who reportedly "provide necessary logistical support" to Pentagon testing programs.Washington Post: Murtha's Nephew Got Defense Contract (May 5, 2009)
Army Space and Missile Defense Command
The majority of Murtech's government contracts have been awarded by the Army Space and Missile Defense Command in Huntsville, Alabama. The Army command has contracts worth at least $200 million a year in federal funding for cancer research.
Congressman Murtha is an outspoken supporter of breast cancer research. Windber Medical Center, based in Murtha's Pennsylvania district, has collaborated with the Army command on Missiles to Mammograms, a multimillion-dollar project which explores the use of missile-tracking technology to detect breast cancer.
Murtech was awarded its first storage contract, which pays $1.4 million a year, from the Army command without competitive bidding. Julius Evans, a spokesman for the Pentagon, said Congressman Murtha has never contacted the U.S. Army command about Murtech and the congressman "has no say in its procurement decisions."Washington Post: Murtha's Nephew Got Defense Contract (May 5, 2009)
Government watchdog groups have commented that they are concerned about the number of no-bid government contracts, regardless of Murtech's connections to Congressman Murtha.Slate: Obama: International Taxman (May 5, 2009)
References
Fast Facts
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2004
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Owner
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Fact:
Murtha is also a former presidential security officer and aide to the president for White House eventsWashington Post: Murtha's Nephew Got Defense Contract (May 5, 2009)
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2008
Received $4 million from the Defense Department for engineering and warehouse service but allegedly has not competed any the work.Washington Post: Murtha's Nephew Got Defense Contract (May 5, 2009)
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Fact:
Congressman John Murtha's practice of awarding defense contracts to companies within his district, particularly Murtech, was questioned in the press in May 2009
