NDAA Whistleblower Notice to Faculty and Staff

The National Defense Authorization Act has been amended to establish a pilot program that enhances protections for employees of federal contractors, subcontractors and grantees. Those individuals are protected from retaliation for disclosure of information that they reasonably believe is evidence of:

• Gross mismanagement of a Federal contract or grant;
• 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.

The pilot program, which runs through January 1, 2017, also establishes a process for the handling and review of whistleblower complaints alleged by employees of contractors, subcontractors and grantees. Faculty and staff who believe that they have been subjected to retaliation may submit their complaint to the Inspector General of the executive agency involved in the contract, subcontract or grant.

• A member of Congress or a representative of a committee of Congress; An inspector general;
• The Government Accountability Office;
• A Federal employee responsible for contract or grant oversight or management at the relevant agency;
• An authorized official of the Department of Justice or other law enforcement agency;
• A court or grand jury;
• A management official or other employee of the contractor, subcontractor or grantee who has the responsibility to investigate, discover or address misconduct.

The “Pilot Program for Enhancement of Contractor Employee Whistleblower Protections” (41 U.S.C. § 4127) provides that federal contractors, subcontractors and grantees cannot discharge, demote or otherwise discriminate against employees who have disclosed the above types of information to:

• Department of Agriculture 
• Department of Defense
• Department of Health and Human Services
• Department of Education
• NASA
• National Institutes of Health
• National Science Foundation

As always, individuals may report suspected fraud, waste or abuse of Purdue University assets as well as regulatory noncompliance to the University’s Hotline (www.purdue.edu/hotline or 1-866-818-2620). 

Finally, individuals who believe that they have been retaliated against for making good faith disclosures of unlawful or fraudulent misconduct may also seek protections under the University’s Whistle Protection Policy.