WASHINGTON– NCS Pearson Inc. has agreed to pay $5.6 million to resolve allegations that it submitted false claims in connection with a contract to assist the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in deploying federal government security personnel at airports, the Justice Department announced today.
The Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which was enacted Nov. 19, 2001, created TSA and, among other things, gave the agency one year to identify the personnel it needed to perform airport security screening, and then to hire and train them. TSA contracted with the Bloomington, Minn., firm for help recruiting and selecting federal screeners. Today’s settlement resolves allegations that NCS Pearson overcharged TSA in connection with that contract by billing incorrect rates for subcontractor labor.
"Today's settlement again demonstrates the Department’s commitment to protecting taxpayer funds from misuse by those doing business with the federal government," said Gregory G. Katsas, Assistant Attorney General for the Department's Civil Division.
The settlement resulted from the collective efforts of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security, the Defense Contract Audit Agency and TSA.
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08-1027