SOL A4 Notice to HHS Contractors

Notice to HHS Contractors, Subcontractors, Grantees, Subgrantees or Personal Services Contractors
Federal law mandates that all Federal contractors, subcontractors, grantees, subgrantees, or personal services contractors, must inform their employees in writing of the rights and remedies provided under this section, in the predominant native language of the workforce.

Whistleblower Information for Employees of HHS Contractors, Subcontractors, Grantees, Subgrantees or Personal Services Contractors Federal law protects Federal employees against reprisal for whistleblowing. In addition, under Title 41, United States Code, Section 4712, it is illegal for an employee of a Federal contractor, subcontractor, grantee, subgrantee, or personal services contractor to be discharged, demoted, or otherwise discriminated against for making a protected whistleblower disclosure. Under Presidential Policy Directive (PPD-19), an action affecting access to classified information cannot be taken in retaliation for protected whistleblowing.

Whistleblowers perform
an important service to
the U.S. Department of
Health and Human
Services and the public
when they come forward
with what they
reasonably believe to be
evidence of wrongdoing.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Inspector They should never be
General (OIG), has jurisdiction to investigate whistleblower reprisal allegations subject to reprisal for
brought by employees of HHS contractors, subcontractors, grantees, subgrantees doing so. or personal services contractors. Information on how to report suspected reprisal to the OIG is available at: https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/

What is a whistleblower?

A whistleblower is an employee of a Federal contractor, subcontractor, grantee, subgrantee or personal services contractor who discloses information that the individual reasonably believes is evidence of: •
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Gross mismanagement of a Federal contract or grant;
A gross waste of Federal funds;
An abuse of authority relating to a Federal contract or grant; A substantial and specific danger to public health or safety; or A violation of law, rule, or regulation related to a Federal contract (including the competition for or negotiation of a contract) or grant.

To whom must the disclosure be made to be protected?

To be protected under Section 4712, a disclosure must be made to one of the following: •
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A Member of Congress, or a representative of a committee of Congress;