Client Issue:
Our client, a US-based industrial manufacturer, faced a regulatory investigation by the General Services Administration (GSA) concerning improper contract pricing. This case presented significant challenges due to the high volume of unstructured and semi-structured data spread across over 500 custodians in multiple office locations across both the US and Canada. The company also lacked internal eDiscovery knowledge or capabilities. We were engaged to help identify all relevant data across various systems, facilitate strict adherence to federal data handling and production rules, and respond to the GSA’s requests within extremely tight, non-negotiable deadlines to avoid suspension or debarment from future federal contracts.
CRA Approach:
- Conducted a comprehensive data inventory and mapping of all systems and repositories potentially holding GSA-related electronically stored information, including enterprise resource planning systems, email archives, and project management platforms.
- Implemented forensically sound targeted network data collection methodology (vs full forensic collections) for a majority of the 500 custodian computers (minus remote workers with limited network bandwidth), facilitating data integrity and chain of custody.
- Used advanced analytics, including concept searching and structured data analysis, to identify key contract clauses, financial transactions, and communications
relevant to the GSA’s inquiry.
Client Impact:
Our eDiscovery support helped the client successfully navigate the complex GSA investigation. We efficiently identified, collected, and produced all requested information, demonstrating transparency and compliance with federal rules. This was vital for their standing as a government contractor. Our efficient process allowed the client to respond to the GSA’s requests ahead of schedule, highlighting their commitment to regulations. This led to a positive outcome for the investigation, avoiding penalties and disruption to their federal contracts.
