Prerequisites for issuing a complaint

The reviewing official may issue a complaint under § 1.307 of this part only if:

(a) The Attorney General or an Assistant Attorney General designated by the Attorney General approves the issuance of a complaint in a written statement as provided in 31 U.S.C. 3803(b)(1);

(b) In the case of allegations of liability under § 1.303(a) of this part with respect to a claim, the reviewing official determines with respect to such claim, or a group of related claims submitted at the same time, that the amount of money or the value of property or services demanded or requested in violation of § 1.303(a) of this part does not exceed $150,000; and

(c) For the purposes of this section, a group of related claims submitted at the same time shall include only those claims arising from the same transaction (e.g., a single grant, loan, application, or contract) that are submitted simultaneously as part of a single request, demand, or submission, regardless of the amount of money or the value of property or services demanded or requested.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the reviewing official's authority to join in a single complaint against a person claims that are unrelated or were not submitted simultaneously, regardless of the amount of money or the value of property or services demanded or requested.