Hill ASC Inc., operating as Hill Associates and based in Rockville, Maryland, has agreed to a multimillion-dollar settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice to address allegations of violating the False Claims Act through improper billing practices under a General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract.
The agreement mandates a payment of at least $14.75 million, with potential additional funds contingent on specified financial milestones, reflecting an assessment of the company’s ability to pay.
This resolution stems from Hill’s provision of information technology (IT) services to various federal agencies between 2018 and 2023 via the GSA MAS program, a streamlined procurement mechanism designed to facilitate government acquisition of commercial off-the-shelf goods and services.
Under the MAS framework, GSA establishes baseline contract terms, enabling other agencies to procure directly from approved vendors without redundant negotiations, thereby optimizing efficiency in federal supply chains.
The core allegations center on Hill’s purported submission of fraudulent claims for IT personnel whose qualifications fell short of contractual stipulations.
Specifically, the company is accused of invoicing federal clients for labor performed by individuals lacking the requisite educational credentials or professional experience outlined in the MAS contract’s labor categories, which are meticulously defined...
For nearly 170 years, the Benedictine Sisters of Erie have been a visible force in that region’s community. They took to the streets for anti-Vietnam and civil rights marches in the 60s and 70s. S...