A group of companies has agreed to pay $5.8 million to resolve a False Claims Act case stemming from alleged affiliations among the companies.

According to a Department of Justice press release, the settlement resolves claims that En Pointe Gov Inc (now known as Modern Gov IT Inc.) falsely certified that it was a small business for purposes of federal set-aside contracts, despite alleged affiliations with four other companies–all of whom will also pay a portion of the settlement.

The government alleged that, between 2011 and 2014, En Pointe Gov Inc. falsely represented that it was a small business.  “In particular,” the press release states, “the government alleged that En Pointe Gov Inc.’s affiliation with the other defendants rendered it a non-small business, and, thus, ineligible for the small business set-aside contracts it obtained.”  The government also alleged that En Pointe under-reported sales made under its GSA Schedule contract, resulting in underpayment of the Industrial Funding Fee.

The issue came to light as the result of a lawsuit filed by an apparent competitor, Minburn Technology Group, and Minburn’s managing member.  Minburn filed the lawsuit under the False Claims Act’s whistleblower provisions, which allow private individuals to sue on behalf of the government.  Miburn and its managing member stand to receive approximately $1.4 million as their share of the settlement.