# DOS Faces Litigation Over Accreditation Contract

The Department of State's 2018 contract 19AQMM18R0131 involving ANSI-ANAB's accreditation practices has raised significant legal and commercial liability concerns. Allegations that the contract violated ISO/IEC 17011 standards have compromised the validity of certifications issued under this contract, exposing insurers, reinsurers, and medical device stakeholders to potential punitive damages and systemic litigation risks. This situation highlights critical risks in accreditation-related procurements and underscores the importance of compliance with international standards to avoid downstream legal exposure.

- Procurement professionals should assess accreditation contracts for strict adherence to ISO/IEC 17011 and related standards to mitigate legal risks.
- Insurers and contractors involved in certification processes may face increased scrutiny and potential liability, affecting contract risk management and insurance coverage.
- Organizations engaged in medical device and insurance sectors should evaluate the impact of this litigation on certification validity and contractual obligations.
- This case signals the need for enhanced due diligence and oversight in government contracts involving accreditation and certification services, especially those with broad industry implications.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Healthcare
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** September 20, 2026

### Government Entities
- Department of State (DOS)
- ANSI-ANAB

### Vendors
- GUBERMAN-PMC, LLC (publisher)

### Sources
- [DOS Contract 19AQMM18R0131: Insurers Blindsided, Litigation Looms -- GUBERMAN-PMC,LLC | PRLog](https://www.prlog.org/13171790-dos-contract-19aqmm18r0131-insurers-blindsided-litigation-looms.html) - PRLog