Reporting Fraud
Here you can understand different types fraud, find case studies of fraud, as well as report fraud to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
The HHS OIG promotes the effective, efficient, and economical operation of HHS’ programs and operations through audits, inspections, investigations, and other reviews. The HHS OIG investigates any fraudulent acts involving HHS, its contractors or subcontractors, or any crime affecting the programs, operations, Government funds, or employees of those entities.
Please use the following if you want additional information or want to report wrongdoing:
HHS OIG Website
HHS OIG Hotline Operations
Combating Fraud
What types of fraud are found in the SBIR/STTR Programs?
- During Application Process:
- Submitting a plagiarized proposal
- Providing false information regarding the company, the Principal Investigator or work to be performed
- Seeking funding for the work that has already been completed
- During Award:
- Using award funds for personal use or for any use other than the proposed activities
- Submitting plagiarized reports or reports falsely claiming work has been completed
- Claiming results for an award that were funded by a different source
Knowing the Rules
Which SBIR rules should you be particularly familiar with?
- Duplicate or overlapping proposals may not be submitted to multiple agencies without full disclosure to all agencies.
- The company must meet SBA’s requirements for a small business, including being majority American owned and have 500 employees or fewer.
- For SBIR: The Principal Investigator’s primary employment must be with the company during the grant period and he or she may not be employed full time elsewhere.
- For SBIR: For Phase I, a minimum of two thirds of the research effort must be performed by the grantee company; for Phase II, a minimum of one-half of the research effort must be performed by the grantee company. Work performed by a university research lab is NOT work completed by the grantee company.
- University employees participating on an SBIR award should disclose their involvement to the university as well as their use of university facilities.
- R&D must be performed in the United States.
Consequences
What happens if you break the rules?
- If you commit fraud or other wrongdoing in applying for or carrying out an SBIR/STTR award, HHS will investigate.
- HHS refers violations of civil or criminal law to the Department of Justice (DOJ). If DOJ prosecutes you for fraud or false statements, you may be sentenced to prison and required to pay full restitution.
- If DOJ pursues a civil action under the False Claims Act, you may have to pay treble (triple) damages and $11,000 for each false claim.
- HHS may terminate your awards and debar you from receiving grants or contracts from any federal agency.
SBIR Fraud Cases
Davis Man Pays $635,000 in Civil Settlement to Resolve Allegations of False Statements to Obtain Grant Frauds
Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of California Press Release
March 29, 2021
Masstech, Richard Lee, And Arnold Lee To Pay U.S. $1.9 Million To Settle False Claims Act Allegations Relating To Small Business Innovation Research Awards
Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland Press Release
May 03, 2018
Lexington Couple Pleads Guilty to Grant Fraud
Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Kentucky Press Release
February 10, 2016
Dr. Dong, GenPhar Inc., and Vaxima, Inc., Convicted of Fraud in Retrial Before U.S. District Court Judge David Norton
USAO, District of South Carolina, Press Release
August 4, 2015
CT's Nano Group OKs $430K Contract Settlement
December 11, 2012
