WRPS Cooks the Books for $6.5M

Richland, WA – In a move that’s anything but surprising, Washington River Protection Solutions, LLC (WRPS), a federal contractor, has agreed to pay $6,500,000 to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to settle allegations of fraudulently overcharging the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for millions of dollars in labor hours.

According to court documents, WRPS’ management was aware of and failed to prevent inflated labor hours being charged to DOE, including labor hours in which WRPS employees were not scheduled or assigned sufficient work to perform. Under the cost-plus-award-fee contract with DOE for the management and operation of the Hanford Site’s “Tank Farms,” WRPS was able to receive reimbursement for its claimed allowable costs, including labor.

WRPS has now admitted that between October 1, 2017, and December 31, 2024, it sought and received reimbursement from DOE for labor hours made up of unallowable excessive idle time. WRPS has further admitted in the settlement agreement that it did not schedule or assign sufficient work to be performed by its personnel.

“This is unfortunately not the first time that WRPS has settled allegations of committing fraud on the Tank Farms Contract,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Richard R. Barker, referring to a 2017 False Claims Act settlement with WRPS where it paid $5.275 million to resolve allegations that it knowingly submitted false claims to DOE for overtime and premium pay as well as that it had failed to comply with its internal audit requirements.

As part of the settlement agreement, the relator will receive $1,400,000 of the settlement amount and is entitled to have WRPS pay attorney fees. “The relator-whistleblower in this case is to be commended,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Barker. “This individual came forward with serious and credible allegations of fraud that were then investigated for years.”

It’s worth noting that this is not the first time WRPS has settled allegations of committing fraud. A 2017 False Claims Act settlement with WRPS resulted in a payment of $5.275 million. The fact that WRPS has had to pay more than twice as much as the money taken from DOE and the taxpayers suggests that the company’s actions were not only egregious but also repetitive.

The payment of $6.5 million is a significant blow to WRPS, and it’s clear that the company’s actions have consequences. As the investigation continues, it’s likely that we’ll learn more about the extent of WRPS’ wrongdoing and the impact it had on the company and the taxpayers.

WRPS’ actions are a stark reminder of the importance of accountability in government contracting and the need for companies to prioritize ethics and transparency. As we move forward, it’s essential that we continue to hold companies like WRPS accountable for their actions and ensure that they are held to the highest standards of integrity.”