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Procurement Fraud
Washington, DC Qui Tam Attorneys
The federal government employs millions of Americans across the wide array of federal agencies and the military, and these federal employees often need specific equipment to do their jobs. Many federal government jobs also require reimbursement for travel, food, and other expenses. Every year, the US government purchases billions of dollars’ worth of goods and services from private companies in order to keep the government and military operating smoothly. This system of contracting with private entities leaves the government vulnerable to procurement fraud.
Government procurement happens across all sectors nationwide, opening the door for fraudulent claims as well as excessive charges for goods and services. For instance, if the EPA needs new computers for work on pollution cleanup, the computer manufacturer may charge more than the fair market value for those computers, supply substandard equipment, or fail to provide all the computers that were ordered. Procurement fraud happens when vendors submit fraudulent or false claims to the government for goods or services provided, which is in violation of the False Claims Act.
Common Types of Procurement Fraud
Basically, any action intended to cause the government to overpay for the goods or service provided probably qualifies as procurement fraud. This may include:
- Rigging bids or offering illegal kickbacks to get contracts
- Intentional overcharging for goods, services, or labor
- Providing substandard goods or services against the contract’s specifications
- Charging full price while failing to meet the obligations in the contract
Because of the wide variety of potentially fraudulent activities and because the government cannot afford thorough oversight of all procurement contracts, procurement fraud is rampant among government contractors and is rarely detected except in the most obvious or severe cases.
Blowing the Whistle on Procurement Fraud
It would be far too expensive and time consuming for the government to provide careful oversight of all procurement transactions. Therefore, the government and taxpayers depend on people of courage whose conscience leads them to report instances of procurement fraud or defense contractor fraud under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act.
Becoming a whistleblower on procurement fraud and corruption is a crucial public service and an act of patriotism on behalf of taxpayers nationwide. In order to encourage people with knowledge of procurement fraud to come forward, the False Claims Act provides significant legal protection for whistleblowers and offers between 15% and 30% of the recovered money as a reward for whistleblowers.
If you are aware that your employer or another party is engaging in procurement fraud, you may have grounds to begin a qui tam action to hold them accountable for stealing taxpayers’ money. We understand that it can be difficult to stand up for what is right while risking your career. At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., our qui tam attorneys will assist you in preparing your case and be sure that you are protected from retaliation to the fullest extent of the law.
If you are aware of any type of procurement fraud or false claims against the US government, please contact our qui tam lawyers today. Our attorneys will offer legal consultation without obligation. All communication between you and Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. attorneys during the consultation process are completely confidential and are protected by attorney-client privilege.
