Investigations
Denver Based Contractor Agrees to Business Ethics Plan with NHTSA
On December 21, 2015, Webb PR, its owners Peter Webb and Virginia Williams, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) agreed to a compliance agreement for a period of five years in order to settle administrative action by NHTSA. Among other requirements, Webb PR agreed to establish a compliance program. They also agreed to abide by a written Code of Business Conduct, and an Internal Control Plan to prevent overcharging on future government contracts. As part of the agreement, the suspensions of Webb PR, Peter Webb and Williams terminated on December 31, 2015.
Webb PR was contracted by Colorado DOT (CDOT) to conduct advertising for NHTSA safety programs, DUI and Click It or Ticket initiatives. It is alleged Webb PR, Williams and Peter Webb improperly over billed CDOT and subsequently, NHTSA by requesting duplicate invoices from subcontractors presenting two different hourly rates. Webb PR, Williams and Peter Webb then allegedly submitted the invoices with the higher hourly rates to CDOT for payment while compensating the subcontractors at the lower hourly rates shown on the corresponding duplicate invoices. The United States further alleges that the contract between CDOT and Webb PR specifically prohibited the billing practice described above.
This investigation was conducted with the assistance of NHTSA and CDOT.