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Ethics & Compliance

Plain-language definitions of every Ethics & Compliance term that shows up in government contracting work.


Ethics & Compliance

Anti-Kickback Statute

The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits any person from offering, accepting, or soliciting money or other items of value to improperly influence federal contract awards or subcontract decisions.

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Ethics & Compliance

Conflicts of Interest in Government Procurement

Conflicts of interest in government procurement arise when a contractor's ability to give impartial assistance or advice, or the government's ability to select contractors objectively, is impaired by personal, financial, or organizational interests, with FAR Subpart 9.5 providing the primary regulatory framework for organizational conflicts of interest.

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Ethics & Compliance

Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct

A Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct is the written ethics program required by FAR 52.203-13 for contractors with contracts over $6 million lasting at least 120 days.

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Ethics & Compliance

Contractor Responsibility

Contractor responsibility is the FAR standard requiring that a contracting officer affirmatively determine that a prospective awardee has the capacity, integrity, and resources to successfully perform a federal contract.

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Ethics & Compliance

Determination of Responsibility

A determination of responsibility is the contracting officer's written finding that a prospective awardee meets all FAR 9.104 standards for integrity, capability, and financial resources required to perform a contract.

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Ethics & ComplianceFCA

False Claims Act

The False Claims Act imposes civil liability on any person who knowingly submits or causes submission of a false claim for payment to the federal government, with treble damages and per-claim penalties.

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Ethics & Compliance

False Claims Act in Government Contracting

The False Claims Act imposes civil liability on any person who submits false or fraudulent claims for payment to the federal government, with penalties of up to three times the government's actual damages plus per-claim penalties, and includes qui tam provisions allowing private citizens to sue on the government's behalf.

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Ethics and Compliance

Gift Rules in Government Procurement

Federal gift rules prohibit contractors from giving gifts, meals, travel, or entertainment to government employees, enforced through 5 CFR Part 2635 and FAR Subpart 3.1.

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Ethics & Compliance

Mandatory Disclosure Rule

The Mandatory Disclosure Rule requires federal contractors to self-report credible evidence of criminal violations, False Claims Act violations, or significant overpayments to the agency Inspector General.

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Ethics and ComplianceNDA

Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) in Government Contracting

NDAs in government contracting protect sensitive pre-award information shared during market research, industry days, or teaming discussions from unauthorized disclosure to competitors.

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Ethics & Compliance

Non-Responsibility Determination

A non-responsibility determination is a contracting officer's finding that a prospective contractor fails to meet FAR 9.104 standards, disqualifying it from receiving the specific contract award.

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Ethics & CompliancePCI

Personal Conflicts of Interest (PCI)

A personal conflict of interest in government contracting occurs when a contractor employee's financial interests or personal relationships could compromise their objectivity in performing acquisition-related functions.

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Ethics & Compliance

Post-Employment Restrictions

Post-employment restrictions are statutory cooling-off periods and lifetime bans that limit former federal officials from lobbying, advising, or representing contractors on matters they handled while in government.

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Ethics & Compliance

Procurement Fraud

Procurement fraud encompasses intentional deception, misrepresentation, or corruption in a federal acquisition process that results in financial loss to the government or unfair contract awards.

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Ethics & Compliance

Procurement Integrity

Procurement integrity refers to the legal and ethical standards that protect the fairness and confidentiality of federal acquisition processes from bid through award.

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Ethics & Compliance

Revolving Door Rules

Revolving door rules are the collective post-employment and pre-employment ethics restrictions that govern the movement of individuals between federal government positions and private sector contractor roles.

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Ethics & Compliance

Whistleblower Protection in Contracting

Whistleblower protection in government contracting prohibits retaliation against employees who report fraud, waste, abuse, or legal violations related to federal contracts, with multiple statutes providing remedies including reinstatement, back pay, and compensatory damages.

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