---
kind: "section"
citation: "41 U.S.C. § 8706"
title: "41"
title_heading: "Public Contracts"
number: "8706"
heading: "Civil actions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/41/8706"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Miscellaneous"
  - "Chapter 87 — Kickbacks"
---

# §8706. Civil actions

- (a) **Amount.—** The [Federal Government](/usc/41/8501.md?p=4) in a civil action may recover from a [person](/usc/41/8701.md?p=3)—
  - (1) that knowingly engages in conduct prohibited by [section 8702 of this title](/usc/41/8702.md) a civil penalty equal to—
    - (A) twice the amount of each [kickback](/usc/41/8701.md?p=2) involved in the violation; and
    - (B) not more than $10,000 for each occurrence of prohibited conduct; and
  - (2) whose [employee](/usc/41/8101.md?p=a-6), [subcontractor](/usc/41/8701.md?p=8), or [subcontractor employee](/usc/41/8701.md?p=9) violates [section 8702 of this title](/usc/41/8702.md) by providing, accepting, or charging a [kickback](/usc/41/8701.md?p=2) a civil penalty equal to the amount of that [kickback](/usc/41/8701.md?p=2).
- (b) **Statute of Limitations.—** A civil action under this section must be brought within 6 years after the later of the date on which—
  - (1) the prohibited conduct establishing the cause of action occurred; or
  - (2) the [Federal Government](/usc/41/8501.md?p=4) first knew or should reasonably have known that the prohibited conduct had occurred.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–350, § 3, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3840.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 8706 | 41:55. | Mar. 8, 1946, ch. 80, § 5, 60 Stat. 37; Pub. L. 86–695, Sept. 2, 1960, 74 Stat. 740; Pub. L. 99–634, § 2(a), Nov. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 3524. |