NASA contractor United Paradyne Corp. to pay US to settle whistleblower claims

NASA contractor United Paradyne Corp. has agreed to pay the United States $375,000 to settle whistleblower allegations after it lied about the condition of equipment it delivered to NASA.

Steven Walker, a former employee of United Paradyne, was the one who sued on behalf of the U.S. under the "whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act" that United Paradyne had failed to meet NASA's requirements.

Walker will receive $75,000 of the proceeds from the settlement with United Paradyne, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office press release. 

Back in 2015, United Paradyne delivered "five accumulator racks," which are needed for the mobile launcher that supports the Space Launch System or SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft that aims to take humans back to the lunar surface by 2024 through NASA's Artemis program. 

More:NASA to award $7 billion contract as part of Artemis lunar mission

The accumulator racks are responsible for providing power, communications, coolant, fuel and stabilization prior to launch to the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft, according to the release.

But United Paradyne failed to clean the racks, verify cleanliness and maintain cleanliness throughout functional testing and final inspection, according to the release. Moreover, it falsely said it had met NASA's requirements. 

"Violating NASA's contractual requirements raises danger and risks to our space program and its personnel as well as harms the integrity of the federal contracting process," said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez in the release. 

More:Q&A: We spoke with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine on Artemis; here's what he said

“The NASA Office of Inspector General will continue to aggressively investigate all Whistleblower ... fraud allegations related to NASA operations and the building of the next generation space launch vehicle and related ground support equipment, said Special Agent in Charge John Corbett, Central Field Office, NASA OIG in the release.

"I congratulate the Department of Justice and the Whistleblower ... relator in coming to an acceptable resolution in this civil matter with United Paradyne Corporation."

Contact Jaramillo at 321-242-3668 or antoniaj@floridatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter at @AntoniaJ_11.