LOS ANGELES – Prosthetics supplier Ossur Americas, Inc. is $500,000 lighter after paying the U.S. Army for violating the law by selling foreign-made prosthetic, bracing and support devices to the Army for wounded soldiers, the U.S. Justice Department stated.
The Buy American Act, generally, prohibits federal government agencies from purchasing foreign-made products. Compliance with this law is required in most contracts with the military and federal agencies, officials stated.
Ossur, which is headquartered in Foothill Ranch in Orange County, paid the money today as part of a settlement agreement, resolving allegations that it had violated federal law, according to authorities.
The alleged conduct took place in 2005 and 2006.
Officials said Ossur became aware that it had made the prohibited sales in early 2006, and entered the Department of Defense’s Voluntary Disclosure Program in December 2006.
The government subsequently investigated Ossur’s disclosure.
In conjunction with Ossur’s voluntary disclosure, the company set up a series of compliance measures, including distribution of instruction sheets to sales representatives and training for management officials, to ensure they follow the Buy American Act, officials stated.