Department of Energy: Contractor Litigation Costs
Abstract
The Department of Energy (DOE) contracts with not-for-profit universities and private companies to operate its facilities. As part of the cost of operating these facilities, DOE can reimburse its contractors for the legal costs associated with cases brought against them. These cases involve such matters as equal employment opportunity, radiation and/or toxic exposure, personal injury, and wrongful discharge. In a letter dated May 26, 1998, you expressed concern that the federal government might be subsidizing contractors that violate the law. Specifically, you asked us to (1) determine what laws and regulations provide for DOE to reimburse its contractors for the litigation, settlement, and judgment costs in cases brought against them; and (2) provide information on such cases, particularly those involving equal employment opportunity, as to the number of cases and the costs that DOE reimbursed its contractors and that contractors paid themselves. On January 28, 2002, we briefed your staff on information related to the legal basis for DOE's reimbursement of contractor litigation costs and the number of, cost associated with, and disposition of contractor litigation cases. At that time, your staff requested that we transmit this information to you.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 08, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA400553
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office