Corporate Whistleblower Center Urges Contractors Involved In Disadvantaged Business Programs To Call Them If They Have Proof Of Fraud Because Of A Recent DOJ Settlement
(PRWEB) May 07, 2014 -- The Corporate Whistleblower Center is urging contractors who are participating the SBA's section 8(a) program for disadvantaged businesses to call them at 866-714-6466 if they possess well documented proof their business mentor is gaming the system, in other words - overbiling the federal government. http://CorporateWhistleblowerCenter.Com
In March 2014. the Justice Department announced that Okland Construction Co. Inc. had agreed to pay the government $928,000 to resolve allegations that it made false statements and submitted false claims under the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Section 8(a) Program for Small and Disadvantaged Businesses.
According to the Justice Department press release, "Okland Construction, a large construction company allegedly entered into a mentor-protégé agreement with Saiz Construction Co., a participant in the 8(a) Program. The mentor-protégé program allows a large business mentor to form an SBA-approved joint venture with a small business protégé to jointly bid on and perform 8(a) contracts, which are contracts awarded by federal agencies that are set aside solely for small businesses. Without a qualifying joint venture, the mentor and protégé cannot jointly bid on 8(a) contracts, and the mentor cannot perform the primary functions of the contract.
“Large businesses must not be allowed to fraudulently obtain access to contracts set aside for small businesses,” said SBA Inspector General Peggy E. Gustafson. “The SBA mentor-protégé program enhances the capability of 8(a) participants to compete more successfully for federal contracts through a relationship with another successful business; however, this program must not be used as a vehicle to improperly benefit large, non-disadvantaged companies.” http://CorporateWhistleblowerCenter.Com
According to the Justice Department press release, Saiz Construction will receive a total of $148,480 for its whistleblower information.
The Corporate Whistleblower Center says,"If you have proof of any type of company gaming the federal government as a way to unjustly enrich themselves, we certainly want to hear about it, provided the whistleblower has substantial proof and evidence the wrongdoing involves fraud in the hundreds of thousands, or millions of dollars. It could be an SBA program for disadvantaged businesses, a contractor providing food services, logistics, security, or almost any imaginable type of service. Unlike any group in the nation, we will help a whistleblower package their information, and we will get them to one of the nation's top whistleblower attorneys, with the only caveat being they have solid proof and documentation." For more information, potential whistleblowers can call the Corporate Whistleblower Center anytime at 866-714-6466. http://CorporateWhistleblowerCenter.Com
Simple rules for a whistleblower from the Corporate Whistleblower Center:
- Do not go to the government first if you are a major whistleblower. The Corporate Whistleblower Center says, “Major whistleblowers frequently go to the federal government thinking they will help. It’s a huge mistake.”
- Do not go to the news media with your whistleblower information. Public revelation of a whistleblower’s information could destroy any prospect for a reward.
- Do not try to force a government contractor, or corporation to come clean to the government about their wrongdoing. The Corporate Whistleblower Center says, “Fraud is so rampant among federal contractors that any suggestion of exposure might result in an instant job termination, or harassment of the whistleblower. Come to us first, tell us what type of information you have, and if we think it’s sufficient, we will help find the right law firms to assist in advancing your information.”
- The Corporate Whistleblower Center wants to emphasize there are high quality whistleblowers in every state including California, New York, Florida, Texas,Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia,Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Missouri, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado,Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Washington, and Alaska.
Any type of insider or employee who possesses significant proof of their employer or a government contractor defrauding the federal government is encouraged to contact to Corporate Whistleblower Center anytime at 866-714-6466 or via their web site at http://CorporateWhistleBlowerCenter.Com
For attribution purposes please refer to the March 2014 United States Department of Justice press release on matter:
http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2014/March/14-civ-298.html
Case number: The civil lawsuit was filed in the District of Utah and is captioned United States ex rel. Saiz Construction Co. Inc. and Abel Saiz v. Okland Construction Co. Inc., No. 2:11-cv-00362 (D. Utah).
M Thomas Martin, America's Watchdog 6, http://CorporateWhistleblowerCenter.Com, +1 (866) 714-6466, [email protected]
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