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Notice of Debarment of EcoHealth Alliance, Inc. — Department of Health & Human Services

Summary

A letter from the HHS Suspension and Debarment Official to Charles Blanchard, Ronald D. Lee and Alex E. Sirio of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP, counsel for EcoHealth Alliance, Inc. (EHA), giving notice that HHS has debarred EHA from United States Federal Government procurement and nonprocurement programs. It follows a May 15, 2024 Notice of Suspension and Proposed Debarment, a December 11, 2024 Amended Notice, and responses submitted on EHA's behalf from July 22, 2024 to January 15, 2025. The debarment is for five years under 2 C.F.R. § 180.800(d), for 'any other cause that is so serious or compelling in nature that it affects your present responsibility', and EHA remains ineligible through May 14, 2029.

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Full text

   DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES                                  Office of the Secretary
                                                                          Washington, D.C. 20201




VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL

Charles Blanchard, Esq.
Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP
601 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001
Email: Charles.Blanchard@arnoldporter.com

Ronald D. Lee, Esq.
Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP
601 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001
Email: Ronald.Lee@arnoldporter.com

Alex E. Sirio, Esq.
Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP
601 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001
Email: Alex.Sirio@arnoldporter.com

       Re: Notice of Debarment of EcoHealth Alliance, Inc.

Dear Mr. Blanchard, Mr. Lee, and Mr. Siro:

        In a May 15, 2024, Notice of Suspension and Proposed Debarment (Notice) and Action
Referral Memorandum (ARM), and December 11, 2024, Amended Notice and Amended ARM,
sent by electronic mail, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
notified your client, EcoHealth Alliance, Inc. (EHA), that HHS had suspended and proposed
EHA for debarment from participating in United States Federal Government procurement and
nonprocurement programs. The suspension and proposed debarment actions were based on
information that EHA lacks the present responsibility to participate in United States Federal
Government procurement and nonprocurement programs. The Notice and Amended Notice also
provided EHA with an opportunity to submit information and argument in opposition to the
suspension and proposed debarment actions. On July 22, 2024, September 19, 2024, January 13,
2025, and January 15, 2025, responses and information were submitted for consideration by me,
as the HHS Suspension and Debarment Official (SDO), on EHA’s behalf.

        After considering the information in the administrative record in this matter, including
the information presented in the above-mentioned responses, I have determined that a period of
debarment for EHA is necessary to protect the Federal Government’s business interests. This
debarment action is being taken pursuant to the Nonprocurement Common Rule at 2 C.F.R. §
180, which HHS adopted and gave regulatory effect to at 2 C.F.R. § 376.10. The basis for my
decision is set forth in the enclosed ARM for Final Debarment, dated the same date as this
Notice.
Notice of Debarment of EcoHealth Alliance, Inc.                                            page 2


         EHA’s debarment is for a period of five years, effective as of the date of this Notice,
pursuant to 2 C.F.R. § 180.800(d), for “any other cause that is so serious or compelling in nature
that it affects your present responsibility.” The period of ineligibility during EHA’s suspension
and proposed debarment, which was effective May 15, 2024, will be included in the period of
debarment. Therefore, under the five-year period of debarment, EHA will remain ineligible
through May 14, 2029. The debarment is effective for covered transactions subject to the
prohibitions of 2 C.F.R. § 180 and contracts that are subject to the Federal Acquisition
Regulation (48 C.F.R. Chapter 1), throughout the executive branch of the United States Federal
Government unless an agency head or an authorized designee grants an exception in writing.

                                              Sincerely,




                                              Suspension and Debarment Official and
                                               Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisitions

Enclosure: Action Referral Memorandum for Final Debarment Decision

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