House chairman seeks documents related to award of contract to KBR Inc. worth up to $2.8B

Chairman seeks documents from defense contract

WASHINGTON — The chairman of the House oversight committee has told Defense Secretary Robert Gates he’s upset that defense giant KBR Inc. was awarded a contract potentially worth $2.8 billion for work in Iraq.

The contract was awarded Friday, a day after the company told shareholders it lost about $25 million in award fees because of flawed electrical work in Iraq.

Rep. Edolphus Towns has asked Gates in a letter to deliver to his committee by March 17 documents related to the new contract for logistics support and in other areas. The contract is for one year, with the option of four more.

KBR was tasked with maintaining the barracks where Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth, a 24-year-old Green Beret, was electrocuted in 2008 while showering.