GPS Systems manufacturer, Furuno USA Inc., is under scrutiny for whistleblower allegations that it supplied the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, and GSA, with GPS devices manufactured at its plant in China in violation of the Trade Agreements Act. Yesterday, the government announced that the company tentatively agreed to pay nearly $700,000 to settle the dispute. Additionally, Furuno will pay the whistleblowers and their attorneys more than a quarter of a million dollars.  According to the allegations, Furuno had been notified specifically that the Trade Agreements Act — which incorporates similar concerns of and to some extent supersedes the Buy American Act — prohibited supplying Chinese-manufactured GPS devices under the government contracts, yet ignored such warnings and continued to sell the government devices made in China.

To report false claims or violations of the Trade Agreement Act or Buy American Act, contact Frohsin & Barger.