§ 16.2 Definitions.

ALJ means an Administrative Law Judge in the authority appointed pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3105 or detailed to the authority pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3344.

Authority means the Department of the Treasury.

Authority head means the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Management.

Benefit, when used in the context of false statements made with respect to a benefit, means anything of value including but not limited to any advantage, preference, privilege, license, permit, favorable decision, ruling, status, or loan guarantee. This definition should be distinguished from the limitations on coverage of these regulations with respect to beneficiaries of specific benefit programs which are found in § 16.3(c) of this part.

Claim means any request, demand, or submission—

(a) Made to the authority for property, services, or money (including money representing grants, loans, insurance, or benefits);

(b) Made to a recipient of property, services, or money from the authority or to a party to a contract with the authority—

(1) For property or services if the United States—

(i) Provided such property or services;

(ii) Provided any portion of the funds for the purchase of such property or services; or

(iii) Will reimburse such recipient or party for the purchase of such property or services; or

(2) For the payment of money (including money representing grants, loans, insurance, or benefits) if the United States—

(i) Provided any portion of the money requested or demanded; or

(ii) Will reimburse such recipient or party for any portion of the money paid on such request or demand; or

(c) Made to the authority which has the effect of decreasing an obligation to pay or account for property, services, or money, except that such term does not include any claim made in any return of tax imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

Complaint means the administrative complaint served by the reviewing official on the defendant under § 16.7 of this part.

Defendant means any person alleged in a complaint under § 16.7 to be liable for a civil penalty or assessment under § 16.3.

Department means the Department of the Treasury.

Government means the United States Government.

Individual means a natural person.

Initial decision means the written decision of the ALJ required by § 16.10 or § 16.37, and includes a revised initial decision issued following a remand or a motion for reconsideration.

Investigating official means any Inspector General, including any Special Inspector General, with investigatory authority over programs of the Department of the Treasury, as applicable.

Knows or has reason to know, means that a person, with respect to a claim or statement—

(a) Has actual knowledge that the claim or statement is false, fictitious, or fraudulent;

(b) Acts in deliberate ignorance of the truth or falsity of the claim or statement; or

(c) Acts in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of the claim or statement.

Makes, wherever it appears, shall include the terms “presents,” “submits,” and “causes to be made, presented,” or “submitted.” As the context requires, making or made, shall likewise include the corresponding forms of such terms.

Person means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, private organization, State, political subdivision of a State, municipality, county, district, and Indian tribe, and includes the plural of that term.

Presiding officer means an administrative law judge appointed in the authority pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3105 or detailed to the authority pursuant to section 3344 of such title.

Representative means an attorney designated in writing by a defendant to appear on his or her behalf in administrative hearings before the Department and to represent a defendant in all other legal matters regarding a complaint made pursuant to these regulations.

Reviewing official means the General Counsel, or another individual in the Legal Division of the Department designated by the General Counsel, who is—

(a) Serving in a position for which the rate of basic pay is not less than the minimum rate of basic pay for grade GS-16; and

(b) Is not subject to supervision by, or required to report to, the investigating official; and

(c) Is not employed in the organization unit of the authority in which the investigating official is employed.

Statement means any representation, certification, affirmation, document, record, or accounting or bookkeeping entry made—

(a) With respect to a claim or to obtain the approval or payment of a claim (including relating to eligibility to make a claim); or

(b) With respect to (including relating to eligibility for)—

(1) A contract with, or a bid or proposal for a contract with; or

(2) A grant, loan, or benefit from, the authority, or any State, political subdivision of a State, or other party, if the United States Government provides any portion of the money or property under such contract or for such grant, loan, or benefit, or if the government will reimburse such State, political subdivision, or party of any portion of the money or property under such contract or for such grant, loan, or benefit, except that such term does not include any claim made in any return of tax imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

[52 FR 35071, Sept. 17, 1987, as amended at 87 FR 10309, Feb. 24, 2022]