That's regardless of whether or not they've received national attention for being under criminal investigation.
You knew full well they'd lied at committee. Mr. Firth has lied at committee. He'd committed the act of forgery and fraud with respect to changing résumés, yet your department thought it prudent to include him in a tendering process, knowing full well that he didn't have staff.
Why couldn't you simply reach out for temporary staff? Why couldn't you put in an advertisement on LinkedIn or an advertisement on the Internet asking for help? Why did you need a consultant to do your basic work? Why?