Whistleblower Information.pdf

This document is a whistleblower information guide for employees of Department of Justice (DOJ) contractors, subcontractors, grantees, subgrantees, and personal services contractors.

The guide explains that whistleblowers perform an important service to the DOJ and the public by disclosing evidence of wrongdoing and are protected from reprisal under federal law. Specifically, Title 41, United States Code, Section 4712 prohibits contractors, subcontractors, grantees, and subgrantees from discharging, demoting, or discriminating against employees for making protected whistleblower disclosures. Presidential Policy Directive (PPD-19) extends this protection to actions affecting access to classified information. A whistleblower is defined as an employee of a federal contractor, subcontractor, grantee, or subgrantee who discloses information reasonably believed to be evidence of gross mismanagement of a federal contract or grant, gross waste of federal funds, abuse of authority relating to a federal contract or grant, substantial and specific danger to public health or safety, or violation of law, rule, or regulation related to a federal contract or grant.

Protected disclosures under Section 4712 must be made to a Member of Congress, a congressional committee representative, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a Federal employee responsible for contract or grant oversight, an authorized DOJ or law enforcement official, a court or grand jury, or a management official of the contractor, subcontractor, or grantee responsible for investigating misconduct. The DOJ OIG has jurisdiction to investigate allegations of reprisal for whistleblowing and will submit findings to the complainant, contractor, and agency head. Individuals may file complaints with the OIG by contacting the Inspections Division via website at https://oig.justice.gov/hotline, hotline at (800) 869-4499, fax at (202) 616-9881, or by mail to 1425 New York Avenue, N.W., Suite 7100, Washington, D.C. 20530-2001. Non-disclosure agreements cannot limit an employee's ability to provide information to the OIG.