Bribes and Contracts
Some contractors may attempt to rig a contract bid by offering federal employees illegal payments. Depending on how the employees can influence the bidding system, they may offer that contractor an unfair advantage in securing a government contract. These bribes off-set the fair opportunity other competitors may depend on to get a contract.
If you have knowledge about unfair or illegal bidding for a government contract, contact the qui tam lawyers of Tycko & Zavareei, LLP, by calling 202-973-0900.
How Bribery Destroys Open Competition
The general purpose behind contract bidding is to open a field of competition for the government to select from. Government contracts provide certain businesses with a substantial amount of money for their operations, allowing these businesses to thrive. If this competition is unbalanced because of a contractor’s bribe, other contractors may not be able to effectively compete. As a result, the government may not be able to find the best product or service for the lowest price, resulting in unnecessary spending of government money.
Bribery can take the following forms:
- Offering bribes to contract selection officials
- Offering bribes to officials to report false information
- Offering bribes to officials to allow untested materials into use
- Offering bribes to officials in return for political clout or protection
- Offering illegal campaign fund bribes
These bribes can throw off the entire contract competition system, leaving government employees with higher priced and lower quality goods or services.
Contact Us
If you have information regarding a government bribe or kickback from a contractor, you may be able to stop fraud against the government. This fraud hurts both the government and taxpaying citizens. To learn more about the False Claims Act, contact the qui tam attorneys of Tycko & Zavareei, LLP, at 202-973-0900 today.
