Government Contract Investigation and Debarment Lawyers
Avoid Stiff Penalties and Debarment From Government Investigations
Protect your rights and avoid costly mistakes in government contracting.
Your Company is Under More Scrutiny and Could Possibly be Subjected to Government Investigation
It has been reported to Congress that United States is wasting $12 million 
a day among contracts issued in support of American efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. AS a government contractor, this means that higher scrutiny can subject you to more oversight from the federal agency to which you have liability and responsibility under your contract. Government contract investigations are increasing in alarming rates since 2009. The Department of Justice (DOJ), Inspector General’s Office (IG) and other investigative authorities are subjecting contractors to more investigation. Our lawyers are adjusting or resources to better assist businesses facing an investigation.
The federal procurement attorneys at Watson & Associates, LLC can vigorously protect your rights. We can help you with:
- Defective pricing claims
- False claims and false statements relating to billing
- Provision of substandard products
- Bribery
- Conflict of interest
- Federal False Claims Act lawsuits
- Implementing internal controls and policies
- Procurement fraud
- Ethical matters
- Independent special counsel investigations
- Debarment
- Suspension
- Improper relationships
- Collusion
- Performing internal investigations
- Aggressively defending against frivolous actions
Fraud and False Claims are Fertile Grounds for Government Investigations
As a government contractor, you must ensure that you are protected in the event of an IG investigation or allegations of false claims and fraud. Agencies are now heavily tasked to increase contract oversight and to increase accountability for contractor fraud. This means that your company is now under heightened scrutiny. For example, businesses are called for congressional testimony to justify unsatisfactory past performance, accounting methods and more. In other situations, businesses are called upon due to allegations of defective pricing or fraud allegations from the government.
When an investigation is launched, you must immediately seek to defend and protect your rights. Whether you are seeking to defend your rights in Department of Justice Investigations, IG investigations or other actions based upon fraud, defective pricing, violation of FAR Ethics Clauses, or false claims.
Five Reasons Why Government Contractors Fail Investigation Outcomes
Government contractors that are subjected to investigations experience damaging outcomes due to the following main reasons:
- Failure to implement internal safeguards
- Lack of understanding of clauses and obligations under the original contract
- Lack of training for key personnel and management
- Failure to adequately cooperate with inspecting agencies
- Acting without adequate representation of counsel
The following are examples of investigations where contractors paid a hefty price. You can avoid and minimize exposure to situations that can impact your bottom line and reputation.
- The Federal Highway Administration revoked $1 million in stimulus funding from a road project in Washington state after an investigation revealed that the county road engineer had owned property near the road and profited from selling the county right of way.
- An Arizona paving contractor won the state’s top highway project even though three of the firm’s top executives pleaded guilty in a federal criminal case involving fraudulent tax returns. Charges against the company itself were dropped after it agreed to pay $1.2 million in back taxes and fines.
- The New York state comptroller rejected a contract to paint 61 bridges in upstate New York because of its concerns that the Bronx contractor may be a front for a firm that had been banned for violating wage rules.
Contractors Have Rights During Federal Contract Investigations
Although the government still acts as a sovereign entity during contract performance, federal law and the Constitution allow for individual rights. For example, CEO’s have Fifth Amendment rights during investigation; investigators sometimes abuse the power of the government by providing false information to get confessions etc; employees have statutory rights under whistle blower statutes.
Understand Ethical Obligations and Preserve Compliance Protection
Contracting agencies and their employees have strict rules against unethical behavior. Since the government spends taxpayer dollars, there is a higher standard of behavior. Likewise, contractors are held to equally high ethical standards under federal procurement law. There are prohibitions against kick-backs, conflicts of interest, improper relationships and more.
Having your company conduct internal reviews and internal investigations can take you out of the limelight. Our government contract investigation defense attorneys help companies take a proactive stance on these issues. It can save thousands or even millions when compared to an adverse result in a DOJ investigation.
Proactive Investments Save You During Investigations
When you are subjected to such scrutiny, you want to be compliant and develop an image of having the correct internal controls and policies in place. By the time an investigator knocks on your door, it is generally too late. This is where our law firm can help.
Investigations can Lead to Suspension and Debarment
When the government IG launches an investigation against your business, the liabilities can be enormous. Criminal implications can also be attached. Because the risks are high, it may be worth the effort to have a procurement investigation defense attorney on your team.
When the agency launches defective pricing investigations, false statements, or over-billing it can lead to the initiation of fraud proceedings, Watson & Associates acts as your advocate. Our government contract investigation attorneys bring the expertise of technical and accounting experts to provide a thorough defense during your investigation.
Get Defense of Fraud Claims in Government Contracts
The government can pursue contract violations in two different ways — civil investigations and penalties or criminal prosecution. Most of our work tends to be in the civil fraud and defective pricing arena. However, for large corporations seeking effective defense, we will put together a solid team that can stand up to the government. We can represent large businesses, small businesses and medium-sized corporations.
Investigate Yourself Before the Government Does
When you take on multi-million dollar contracts, you also take on liability. Companies that do not immediately create sound internal policies and procedures quickly find out that sanctions and penalties resulting from a government investigation can be crippling to the company. Investigate yourself before the government decides to.
Having sound advice and representation from a federal government contract attorney can ease stress while still keeping your rights protected. Watson & Associates can also help with complex claims against the agency. We also offer:
- Proactive intervention
- Internal policy review
- Government contract training
Although many firms handle traditional government contract matters, our attorneys also represent large contractors with unique investigation and claims problems in large dollar contracts. In addition, and because of experience as former federal contracting executives, we are also well-versed in small business programs such as 8a and HUBZone.
Schedule a Consultation
Consult a government investigation defense lawyer immediately after any suspicions of fraud arise. To schedule a free initial consultation, call toll free 1-866-601-5518 or contact us online.
We Offer Other Government Contract Services
As you continue your venture into federal contracts, you will see that successful contractors find it beneficial to have immediate access to legal advice. Things occur daily where the answer or solution may not be readily apparent. Having a contract attorney can make a huge difference. With us, you also get help with:
- Compliance consultation
- Solicitation analysis, bid and proposal preparation, and contract negotiations
- Consulting services
- RFP and solicitation assistance
- Bid protests (pre-award and post-award)
- Teaming and joint ventures
- Terminations and claims
- Contract administration and claims
- Training Services
- SBA size-status protests, 8(a), HUBZone
- GSA schedules
- Corporate self-governance
- Prime and subcontractor disputes
- Suspension and debarment
- Internal compliance investigations and disclosures
- Procurement Integrity Act issues
- Alternative dispute resolution (”ADR”)
- Construction contracts
- Privatization and A-76 matters
- Procurement fraud
- Native American 8(a) contracts
- Information about Federal Acquisition Regulation (”FAR”)
National Representation
Government contract law allows our ethics and investigation defense lawyers and consultants to serve defense contractors in Denver, Colorado; Wyoming; Washington State; California; Maryland; New Mexico; Kansas and Nebraska; New York; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Chicago, Illinois; Michigan; Pennsylvania; Virginia; North Carolina; South Carolina; Arkansas; Colorado Springs; Utah; Oklahoma; Ohio; Maine; Florida; Texas; Nevada; Maryland; Louisiana; Las Vegas; Georgia; Hawaii; Alaska; Washington, D.C.; West Virginia; Florida; Indiana; Washington State; Mississippi; Tennessee; Miami; Virgin Islands; Rhode Island; Vermont; Wisconsin; Minnesota; Missouri; Virginia; Delaware; Connecticut; Arizona; New Hampshire; Massachusetts; and Montana.
Additional online resources
•Federal Business Opportunities
•Office of Federal Procurement Policy
•Office of Federal Compliance Programs
•U.S. Department of Agriculture
•Central Contractor Registration
Contact us today to protect your rights if you are involved in a government contract investigation or need assistance with an unpaid claim.
Call Watson & Associates toll free at (866)601.5518.
