More Bush research. I just must know if these circulating Bush
accusations are true. Did the Bush administration change policy to
somehow or in any way loosen restrictions on awarding Federal
contracts to convicted criminals"?   Seems I heard something about
this on NPR radio but I don't remember the specifics.

Dear Chris, 

"Convicted criminals" sounds like a band of murderers and rapists. The
problems we're discussing here concern corporations (or their
managers) who have been convicted in violating environmental laws,
workplace safety regulations, or other federal laws. Of course, one
could claim that violations of environmental laws or disregard for
safety rules could kill many people.

In any case, regarding these "coporation criminals", the answer is yes. 

In March 2001, Bush suspended a 1997 Clinton administration rule "that
would have significantly strengthened the government's ability to deny
contracts to companies that have violated workplace safety,
environmental and other federal laws." (SOURCE: Ellen Nakashima,
"Clinton Contractor Rule Is Suspended" , Washington Post, March 31,
2001; Page A01, <http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A18314-2001Mar30&notFound=true>)

Read more: 
"Revocation of Federal "Contractor Responsibility Rules", Seyfarth
Shaw Attorneys, January 11, 2002,
<http://www.seyfarth.com/db30/cgi-bin/pubs/011402.pdf> (some legal
analysis of the affair).

I hope this answered your question. My search terms: 
"federal contracts" "contractor responsibility" bush (very good one,
find more articles by this search,
<://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22federal+contracts%22+%22contractor+responsibility%22+bush&btnG=Search>).
"federal contracts" clinton 1997 convicted violations bush
"federal contracts" criminals bush

Please contact me if you need any clarification on this answer before you rate it.

Thanks for the rating, Chris.