FRA Suspends Former Amtrak Contracting Officer
On June 1, 2018, Timothy Miller, former lead contract administrator at the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), was suspended by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) from participation in Federal procurement and non-procurement programs. Miller previously pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to one count of Federal program bribery for his role in a kickback scheme.
Miller was responsible for procuring equipment and services and managing Amtrak’s diesel and locomotive seat cushion vendor accounts. He admitted that he approved Company 1 as a vendor and seat cushion supplier, and through his efforts, Amtrak awarded the company four fleet maintenance contracts worth over $7.6 million. In return for steering contracts and providing pricing information to Company 1, Miller received approximately $20,000 and other things of value, including trips to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Miller and two Company 1 executives created a sham consulting company and submitted invoices to the company for payment.
FRA executes and oversees grant agreements that provide Amtrak with Federal funds appropriated by Congress. Amtrak uses those funds for a wide range of activities, including a portion of its operating expenses, capital maintenance of fleet and infrastructure, capital expansion and investment programs, and capital debt repayment. The four fleet maintenance contracts related to this scheme involved approximately $6.5 million in FRA grant funds.
DOT-OIG is conducting this investigation with the Amtrak-OIG, FBI, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division.
Note: A suspension or debarment frequently covers a specific period of time. Please consult the System for Award Management to determine whether a company or individual is currently suspended or debarred.