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False Eligibility Application For Grant May Violate FCA

Client Alert | 1 min read | 11.09.05

In a ruling that could expand the exposure of grantees to False Claims Act liability, the Seventh Circuit in United States ex rel. Main v. Oakland City University (Oct. 20, 2005) held that a relator stated an FCA claim based upon a private university's allegedly false representation, made on a "phase one" application to establish institutional eligibility for federal financial aid, that it would comply with laws prohibiting payment of incentive fees to recruiters for enrolling students. Rejecting the argument that the "phase one" application does not by itself seek any payment, the court reasoned that a false "phase one" eligibility application could be actionable as a "false record or statement" under the FCA because it supports subsequent "phase two" requests for specific loans and grants.

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Client Alert | 1 min read | 04.18.24

GSA Clarifies Permissibility of Upfront Payments for Software-as-a-Service Offerings

On March 15, 2024, the General Services Administration (GSA) issued Acquisition Letter MV-2024-01 providing guidance to GSA contracting officers on the use of upfront payments for acquisitions of cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).  Specifically, this acquisition letter clarifies that despite statutory prohibitions against the use of “advance” payments outside of narrowly-prescribed circumstances, upfront payments for SaaS licenses do not constitute an “advance” payment subject to these restrictions when made under the following conditions:...