Organizational Conflicts of Interest (“OCIs”) can have serious consequences. If a contracting officer determines that an OCI exists with respect to a contractor, it may prevent that contractor from obtaining a contract award, or result in the termination of a current contract. t is, therefore, critically important for contractors to avoid not only an actual OCI, but also any appearance of an OCI. The challenge is, many contractors are confused about what types of situations constitute an OCI. They do not know how to identify them, let alone how to avoid them. Many contractors are also unaware of the procedure by which a contracting officer analyses, neutralizes, or mitigates a potential OCI, as well as how contractors may participate in, and impact, that process. In this webinar, experienced government contracts attorney Maria Panichelli provides a primer on OCIs. Starting with the FAR definition, she walks attendees through the common bases for OCIs, and explain the basic types – 1) Unequal Access to Information, (2) Impaired Objectivity, and (3) Biased Ground Rules. Attendees learn how and when these issues most often arise, and how to anticipate and mitigate – if not avoid – them. Maria also talks about the tools a contracting officer might use when addressing, neutralizing, or mitigating a potential OCI. Finally, attendees learn how a contractor might participate in that process, including the preparation of a mitigation plan.
6.20.2024