Reporting Government Contract fraud by failure to comply with contract specifications
This article shows you how to get a reward for reporting fraud against the military or other government agency when a contractor fails to comply with the contract specifications, such as milspecs.
Ten percent of government spending is lost to fraud. When a contractor fails to comply with the military milspecs or other government contract specifications, the government does not receive what it paid for and it is considered government contract fraud. When contractors cut corners or cheat by failing to comply with milspecs or all of the contract specs, it costs all of us in increased taxes.
Fortunately, the government wants you to report fraud by those failing to comply with milspecs or contract specifications. It is willing to pay significant monetary whistleblower rewards for reporting failure to comply with milspecs or any other contract specifications. To get a reward, however, you must follow the reward statute’s own set of specifications or requirements. If you don’t follow them, you won’t receive a reward.
Tips for reporting failure to comply with milspecs or contract specifications
This article briefly outlines the basics for how to report failure to comply with government contract specifications (or milspecs on military contracts), and how to apply for a whistleblower reward for reporting a contractor failing to comply with all of the contract specifications in the government or military contract.
First, you can’t simply call the Inspector General or other hotline to report fraud to be eligible for a whistleblower reward. Rather, you must use an attorney (on a contingency basis for a portion of the whistleblower reward) to file qui tam suit under the False Claims Act. Your attorney must follow the exact process in the reward statute to be eligible for a reward for reporting failure to follow milspecs or other contract specifications in a government contract. Therefore, it is key that you select an attorney experienced with handling reward applications for government contract fraud cases.
Second, you must report very specific information about how the contractor failed to follow milspecs or other contract specifications. The government turns down 75% of whistleblower reward applications, so it’s key that your attorney file a clear and convincing application.
How much reward for reporting milspec fraud or failure to comply with all contract specifications?
The whistleblower reward is a portion of the amount the government recovers from the contractor that cheated on the government contract by not complying with milspecs or other contract specifications. The reward is 15 to 25 percent of the amount the government recovers.
Examples of fraud by failing to comply with contract specs
Government contracts, such as milspecs for military contracts, contain contract specifications that must be strictly followed. The specifications may dictate the type of material to be used, or it may require certain quality controls that must take place. The cost of complying with the specifications are built into the contract. It is fraud to omit required tests, used different materials, or cut corners on quality assurance protocols.
Fraud by failing to comply with milspecs or contract provisions includes many different fraud schemes. One example is failing to conduct required tests. For instance, some contracts require that a certain percentage of parts be inspected or that certain tests be performed. It is fraud to cut corners by not conducting the right amount of tests or correct tests. It is also fraud to use inferior goods or components. In most cases, a contractor may not choose to substitute a product even if it thinks it is the equivalent or as good as that specified in the government contract.
How to report milspec fraud or failure to comply with all contract specifications
This website (and the books authored by Mr. Hesch) walk you step-by-step through the entire process of reporting fraud against the government and shows you how to report failure to comply with contract specifications and obtain a whistleblower reward.
Because there are risks for reporting fraud against the government, you should talk to an attorney experienced with whistleblower reward cases before you blow the whistle and report fraud by failure to comply with milspecs or other government contract specifications.
Mr. Hesch has vast experience with investigating fraud against the federal government while working at the Civil Fraud Section of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. He is ready to review your information and show you whether and how to report fraud by failure to comply with contract specifications.
The link at the bottom of the page below “Do I have a case” shows you how to ask Mr. Hesch to review your potential fraud case and how to get a reward for reporting fraud against the government by failing to comply with contract specifications.
Click on this link to read this article in pdf format:How to report fraud for failing to comply with mil-specs or government contract specifications and receive a whistleblower reward PDF version