Federal Contractor Agrees to Pay Over $1.7 Million for Toner Overcharges

A government contractor – Accenture Federal Services LLC – has agreed to pay the U.S. federal government $1.7 million in toner overcharges, due to unauthorized toner purchases by a sub-contractor, according to a statement issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Accenture Federal Services, located in Reston, Virginia, has agreed to pay $1,744,559 to settle overcharges billed to a General Services Administration multiple award schedule contract.

Accenture told the U.S. Army Contracting Command that Accenture’s internal investigation showed that the overcharges were due to unauthorized purchases of toner “surreptitiously made by a subcontractor on the contract.”

The disclosure by Accenture to the U.S. Army was made in accordance with the Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct under the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). Accenture provided assistance during the government’s investigation.

The resolution is said to have been the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Army Criminal Investigation Command. The civil claims settled are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability.