November 23, 2016

Bechtel National Inc., Bechtel Corp., URS Corp. (predecessor in interest to AECOM Global II LLC) and URS Energy and Construction Inc. (now known as AECOM Energy and Construction Inc.) agreed to pay $125 million to resolve allegations they violated the False Claims Act by charging the Department of Energy for deficient nuclear quality materials, services, and testing that was provided at the Waste Treatment Plant at DOE’s Hanford Site near Richland, Washington.  The settlement also resolves allegations that Bechtel improperly used federal contract funds to pay for a comprehensive, multi-year lobbying campaign of Congress and other federal officials for continued funding at the site.  The allegations originated in a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act by Gary Brunson, Donna Busche, and Walter Tamosaitis, who worked on the Hanford project.  They will receive a yet-to-be-determined whistleblower award from the proceeds of the government’s recovery.  DOJ

Tagged in: FCA Federal, Government Procurement Fraud, Whistleblower Case, Whistleblower Rewards,