New Fraud Countermeasures 

Companies that propose the use of highly qualified personnel, but instead use less qualified personnel during performance of Air Force Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) contracts are among those being targeted by a new anti-fraud initiative.

Recent operational changes to the program have created a strong deterrent by making it more difficult to commit fraud on Air Force SBIR/STTR contracts and providing better evidence when it does happen. The changes are expected to make a significant impact by putting the government in the strongest possible position to hold a fraudulent contractor accountable.

Proposers and their principal investigators, for example, are now required to review training slides of program rules and attach certificates of completion with every proposal submitted. Also among the improvements is a contract clause that requires companies to identify the principal investigator for each SBIR/STTR contract and requires written approval from the Air Force prior to making a change. This is designed to deter bait-and-switch schemes, in which contractors propose an experienced researcher as the principal investigator then use a lesser-qualified, lower-cost employee to serve in that role.

Fighting fraud protects the integrity of the government’s procurement process, saves precious taxpayer dollars and mitigates significant threats to the safety of our warfighters.

The initiative was led by The Air Force Office of Special Investigations - Office of Procurement Fraud Investigations Directorate, which partnered with a team at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. The team included Air Force Materiel Command’s Law Office Procurement Fraud Division, the Air Force Research Laboratory Contracting Office and the SBIR/STTR Program Office.

Questions about the new fraud-fighting measures and suspected fraud on a contract within this program, send an email to sbrk.sprints@us.af.mil or submit an anonymous tip through the AFOSI line, which can be found at https://www.p3tips.com/TipForm.aspx?ID=1111# .

Please refer to your solicitation package for instructions on completing the required FWA training.