The federal government relies on contractors to perform jobs in almost every department. From the Department of Defense, to the Department of the Interior, to the Department of Health and Human Services, each of these agencies depends on government contractors to perform jobs.
For many companies, government contracts are a significant portion of their work. Unfortunately, the competition that can lead companies to compete over government contracts can tempt those companies into committing fraud.
If you think that you have observed fraud in the bidding process or fulfillment of a government contract, reach out to a Greenville government contractor fraud lawyer today. A whistleblower attorney may be able to help you to file a complaint as well as to seek out a reward for your role as a whistleblower.
The False Claims Act is a federal law that prohibits the commission of fraud against the federal government. But what exactly does this law mean? According to 31 United States Code § 3729, the False Claims Act says that it is illegal for any party to knowingly submit a false claim for benefits or payment against the government. It is possible to extrapolate this concept to cover government contractors.
These companies submit bids to earn contracts that require them to provide goods or services to a branch of the government. When making these bids, these companies must do so in good faith. Failing to provide a realistic date of completion or ability to produce goods up to a reasonable standard may constitute fraud.
A key concept behind this law is the idea of intent. A company only violates the False Claims Act if they intentionally or knowingly submit false data for payment to the government. As a result, a Greenville government contractor fraud whistleblower attorney may only be able to help if an individual believes that they have witnessed an intentional fraudulent act.
There are many motivations for why a person may want to act as a whistleblower. From the altruistic perspective, speaking out helps the government as well as discourages future acts of fraud in the future.
In addition, being a whistleblower may result in a monetary reward. However, there are caveats to this concept. First, whistleblowers must come forward on their own and not be employed in a job that requires them to report fraud. Second, the information that they provide to the government must be new. Finally, the investigation must result in a conviction that recovers funds.
A Greenville government contractor fraud lawyer could help people to request a reward for their information. Under 31 United States Code § 3730(c)(5), these rewards may range in value from 15 to 25 percent of the funds seized in the case.
The government contract process is full of opportunities to commit fraud. Companies bidding for these contracts may intentionally underestimate the length of a job, promise goods that they are unable to produce, or intentionally finish contracts beyond the estimated time. Each of these instances may be a violation of the False Claims Act.
The government often relies on whistleblowers to learn about these illegal activities. People who believe that they have information about these activities may come forward with a complaint. If their complaint leads to a conviction, they may even be entitled to a reward.
A Greenville government contractor fraud lawyer could help you in these situations. They can work to compose a complaint, file a writ of Qui Tam, and even protect you against potential retaliation. Call today to get started.