Two GAO audits turned up a total of $4.9 million in costs that were questionable or illegal. That amount was in addition to $4.4 million in charges that the Pentagon's own contract watchdog agency had rejected.
The first study of six small contractors, including SRS Technologies and Sparta, found $2 million in illegal or questionable expenses in addition to $1 million rooted out by Pentagon contract auditors.
The other companies are Foster-Miller Inc. in Waltham, Mass.; Sippican Inc. in Marion, Mass.; Electromagnetic Sciences Inc. in Norcross, Ga.; and MA-COM Inc. in Wakefield, Mass.
The second GAO study examined two large contractors. Here, auditors identified $2.9 million in illegal or questionable charges in addition to $3.4 million uncovered earlier by the Pentagon. The two larger companies were E-Systems Inc. of Dallas and McDonnell Douglas Corp. of St. Louis.
Sparta Inc. at a Glance
* Founded: 1979
* Headquarters: Laguna Hills
* President: Wayne Winton
* Employees: 640
* In Orange County: 42
* Business: Engineering services contractor involved in ballistic missile ("Star Wars") and other defense engineering projects
* 1993 sales: $80 million
* Alleged illegal billings: $2,300 in meals for spouses; $27,500 for personal use of company car; $1,400 for alcoholic beverages; $102,000 in inadequately documented consultant fees
* Questionable charges: $46,000 for trip to Grand Cayman Island; $102,000 to send 151 employees, accompanied by 112 spouses or guests, to annual meeting in Jamaica; $49,000 for trip to Mexico; $135,000 and $229,000 for trips to Hawaii
Sources: Dun & Bradstreet, U.S. Congress; Researched by JANICE L. JONES / Los Angeles Times
SRS Technologies at a Glance
* Founded: 1970
* Headquarters: Newport Beach
* Chairman: Mohindar S. Sandhu
* Employees: 370
* In Orange County: 28
* Business: Computer integrated systems design and systems engineering
* 1993 sales: $30.2 million
* Alleged illegal billings: $10,000 for personal use of company car; $1,400 in alcoholic beverages; $37,000 in inadequately documented consultant costs; $14,700 in legal costs in a lawsuit against the government
* Questionable charges: $44,000 to send 40 employees and one consultant to Bermuda
Sources: Dun & Bradstreet, U.S. Congress; Researched by JANICE L. JONES / Los Angeles Times
