$1.8M Award to be Paid to SAIC Contract Fraud Whistleblower

Whistleblower Richard Priem will receive $1.8 million as his share of the Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) settlement with the U.S. government, the Associated Press reported recently.

SAIC received federal grant money through the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology to provide course management, development, and instruction to first responder personnel to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks involving explosive devices.  The government alleged that SAIC’s cost proposals falsely represented that SAIC would use far more expensive personnel to carry out its efforts than it actually did use, resulting in inflated charges to the United States.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced in June that SAIC would settle the allegations for $11.75 million.

According to Priem, a former project manager for SAIC, high-level executives at the company were aware of the billing issues and worried about being caught.

Priem initiated the lawsuit under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act.  Under the False Claims Act, a private citizen with knowledge of fraud against the government can sue on behalf of the government and share in the recovery. 

The Chanler Group, in association with the Hirst Law Group, represents whistleblowers who take action under the False Claims Act to report fraud committed against the federal and state governments.  We have years of experience representing whistleblower clients who expose every kind of fraud against the government, including health care fraud, contract fraud, and tax fraud.  Read more about our expertise in False Claims Act cases and how you can take action.