WASHINGTON (March 19, 2002)—The federal government ban on using the auditing/accounting firm Arthur Andersen LLP for federal contracts doesn't extend to a recently announced contract with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to an agency spokesman.
“That's a signed deal,” the spokesman said about NHTSA's hiring of Andersen to monitor implementation of the agency's early warning system for potential auto and tire defects.
The contract was signed before Andersen, accused of misconduct in auditing the books of Enron Corp., was barred March 15 by the General Services Administration from bidding on new government business.