Procurement Fraud Whistleblower Lawyer

Learn What You Need to Know About Serving as a Procurement Fraud Whistleblower for the Federal Government 

Whistleblowers play a critical role in the federal government’s fight against procurement fraud. Each year, fraudulent activity under government contracts diverts federal funds and drains hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars, directly affecting agencies’ ability to deliver vital services to the public.

Federal Agencies Rely on Whistleblowers to Help Them Uncover Procurement Fraud

While federal agencies have the authority to audit their contractors—and even reduce the prices they pay under procurement contracts in some circumstances—there are a couple of practical issues at play. The first is cost. Agencies simply don’t have the budget to conduct comprehensive contract audits on a regular basis.

The second is concealment. In many cases, private companies acting as contractors that engage in fraud will carefully conceal their efforts to do so. As a result, even when government agencies conduct contract audits, they often won’t be able to detect the fraud that has been committed. Both of these issues make it essential for whistleblowers to come forward—and many agencies readily acknowledge the central role that private citizens play in helping them fight fraud, waste, and abuse.

5 Important Facts About Serving as a Federal Procurement Fraud Whistleblower

With this in mind, what do you need to know if you are thinking about reporting procurement fraud to the government? Here are five important facts to know about serving as a federal whistleblower:

1. Government Procurement Fraud Can Take Many Forms

The first important fact you should know is that this type of fraud can take many different forms. As a result, if you have concerns about fraud as a current or former employee of a government contractor, subcontractor, or agency, you should not ignore them. Some of the most common forms of fraud in the competitive bidding process, contract negotiation, and contract execution processes include:

• Bid rigging
• Bidding collusion
• Billing for materials or supplies not used
• Billing for products not delivered
• Inflated invoices (including padding labor hours or altering timecards)
• Billing under time and materials (T&M) contracts instead of firm fixed price (FFP) contracts
• Bribery and kickbacks
• Buy American Act (BAA) and Trade Agreements Act (TAA) violations
• False BAA and TAA compliance certifications
• False statements made during contract negotiations
• Shifting costs, such as mischarging indirect expenses or disguising overbilling
• Substituting substandard materials or inferior goods or services

Again, these are just some of the most common examples. At Oberheiden P.C., we help whistleblowers report all forms of procurement fraud to the government. Our procurement fraud whistleblower attorneys can determine if the information you have in your possession is indicative of actionable procurement fraud; and, if so, we can walk you through the steps involved in serving as a whistleblower.

2. You Need Evidence (But Not Conclusive Proof) of Government Procurement Fraud

To serve as a federal whistleblower, you need evidence of government procurement fraud. However, you don’t necessarily need conclusive proof. To qualify as a whistleblower under the False Claims Act (FCA), you must be able to supply the government with sufficient evidence to demonstrate that further investigation is warranted. If you have conclusive proof, you can—and should—provide it. But, if you don’t, you could still have plenty of information to qualify as a whistleblower under federal law.

3. You Should Be Prepared to Work with the Government During Its Investigation

Regardless of how much evidence you are able to provide initially, you should be prepared to work with the government during its investigation. This is important for a couple of reasons.

First, to determine where to look for additional evidence, to interpret the pricing or billing data at issue, and to assess the implications of the specific facts and circumstances at hand, federal agents might need your help. Insider insights often prove critical in government procurement fraud investigations.

Second, if you are eligible to receive a reward under the False Claims Act or the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the more assistance you provide during the government’s investigation, the greater the reward you may be entitled to receive. Whistleblower rewards under the False Claims Act generally range from 10% to 30% of the amount recovered, and providing significant assistance during the government’s investigation can support a request for a reward at the upper end of this range.

4. There Are Several Reasons to Strongly Consider Blowing the Whistle on Government Procurement Fraud

If you have evidence (or believe that you may have evidence) of government procurement fraud, there are several reasons to strongly consider serving as a federal whistleblower. These reasons include (but are not limited to):

• Recovering fraudulent payments to federal contractors and subcontractors
• Preventing fraudulent payments in the future
• Preserving the integrity of the federal contracting system
• Aiding the government’s fight against fraud, waste, and abuse
• Establishing your eligibility for a whistleblower reward

Each of these are reason enough on their own to warrant coming forward. Combined, these reasons are more than enough for many people to take the first step toward holding bad actors accountable. It is also important to note that procurement fraud whistleblowers are entitled to strong protections against retaliation under federal law.

5. Hiring a Procurement Fraud Whistleblower Lawyer Costs Nothing Out-of-Pocket

From deciding whether to report fraud to working with federal investigators, all aspects of the federal whistleblower process require experienced legal representation. At Oberheiden P.C., our lawyers provide whistleblower representation at no out-of-pocket cost to our clients. At the beginning of the whistleblower claim process, our role is to help you make informed decisions. If you decide to blow the whistle, our lawyers will advise and represent you every step of the way in a Federal False Claims Act case.

Put our highly experienced team on your side

Dr. Nick Oberheiden

Founder

Attorney-at-Law

Lynette S. Byrd

Former DOJ Trial Attorney

Partner

Brian J. Kuester

Former U.S. Attorney

Hon. Kevin McCarthy

55th Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives (ret.)

Government Consultant

Mike Pompeo

Of Counsel

Former U.S. Secretary of State

John W. Sellers

Former Senior DOJ Trial Attorney

Linda Julin McNamara

Federal Appeals Attorney

Nicholas B. Johnson

Former Prosecutor

Roger Bach

Former Special Agent (DOJ)

Chris J. Quick

Former Special Agent (FBI & IRS-CI)

Michael S. Koslow

Former Supervisory Special Agent (DOD-OIG)

Ray Yuen

Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI)

Working with a Procurement Fraud Whistleblower Lawyer at Oberheiden P.C.

What else do you need to know about working with a procurement fraud lawyer at Oberheiden P.C.? Here are five important facts about engaging our firm to represent you:

• We Know Procurement Fraud – We have extensive experience in this area, and we are intimately familiar with the various forms that procurement fraud can take. We know what it takes for the federal and state governments to prove fraudulent bidding and contracting practices.
• We Are Committed to Protecting Whistleblowers’ Rights – We are passionate about all aspects of whistleblower representation, and this includes vigorously protecting our clients’ rights. Our lawyers will be fully prepared to protect your rights by any and all means necessary.
• We Are a Team of Senior-Level Lawyers and Consultants – Unlike many other law firms, our team is composed entirely of senior-level lawyers and consultants. You will work directly with these lawyers and consultants throughout our engagement.
• We Have Prior Federal Law Enforcement Experience – Along with experience in the private sector, many of our lawyers and consultants have prior experience in federal law enforcement. This includes experience investigating and prosecuting procurement fraud at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and other federal agencies.
• We Will Provide One-on-One Advice and Representation – You can expect to work one-on-one with our senior team members on all aspects of your whistleblower case. We will provide the information and insights you need to make informed decisions; and, if you decide to move forward, we will work closely with you while communicating with federal authorities on your behalf.

FAQs: Serving as a Federal Procurement Fraud Whistleblower

Speak with a Procurement Fraud Whistleblower Lawyer at Oberheiden P.C. in Strict Confidence

Procurement fraud often overlaps with broader schemes such as contractor fraud and government contract fraud, where companies deliberately violate contract requirements or submit false invoices to secure or retain federal funds. These issues can arise at any stage of the procurement process, and insiders are often the only people who can identify patterns of misconduct early. When employees notice irregularities or suspect unlawful practices, understanding their protections under whistleblower law becomes essential.

Whistleblowers play a vital role by providing information that agencies cannot uncover on their own. If you have knowledge of concealed billing practices or misrepresentations, taking the step forward can help prevent additional losses and support a fair contracting environment.

Would you like to speak with an experienced procurement fraud whistleblower lawyer? We invite you to get in touch. To schedule a free and confidential consultation as soon as possible, call 888-680-1745 or tell us how we can reach you online.