The Texas A&M Research Foundation – an independent non-profit service organization focused on facilitating research and development within the Texas A&M University System – has agreed to pay $750,000 to resolve claims that it submitted improper charges to federal grants.
The settlement is the result of an investigation that began after a qui tam lawsuit was filed under seal by TAMRF employees. They allege that TAMRF allowed personnel to ignore federal restrictions and permitted the overcharging of salaries, which inflated grant expenses. They also alleged TAMRF engaged in cost shifting, allowed academic employees to wrongfully receive longevity pay, violated salary caps, and improperly charged grants for expenses not incurred or not covered.
Under the False Claims Act, the relators will receive $142,500.