MCLEAN, VA — Advanced Systems Technology & Management, Inc., a McLean-based contractor specializing in science and technology-based engineering and consulting, and its CEO Bing Ran, also from McLean, agreed to pay $742,500 Thursday to settle allegations that they had used an alter ego to obtain contracts for which the company was ineligible, according to a release.
A former AdSTM employee filed a lawsuit under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act. The lawsuit alleged that AdSTM and Ran had conspired to convince federal agencies to fraudulently award multiple "set-aside" contracts to Qi Tech and Foredata, two companies controlled by AdSTM.
Government contractors who participate in the Small Business Administration's 8(a) Program can obtain "set-aside" contracts meant to help smaller contractors. To be eligible for set-asides, a company must be a small business, at least 51 percent owned by U.S. citizens who are disadvantaged, either economically or socially; and controlled by one or more people who are economically or socially disadvantaged.
AdSTM was not eligible to receive the set-aside contracts, and since it controlled Qi Tech and Foredata, they were also ineligible, according to court documents.
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