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Procurement Integrity Act (PIA) Overview

Procurement Integrity Act (PIA) Overview . Presented By: Carolyn J. Perry, Senior Associate General Counsel, Ethics and Personnel April 1, 2010. The many meanings of “PIA”. 62 definitions of “PIA” Some highlights Philippine Information Agency Pittsburgh International Airport

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Procurement Integrity Act (PIA) Overview

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  1. Procurement Integrity Act (PIA) Overview Presented By: Carolyn J. Perry, Senior Associate General Counsel, Ethics and Personnel April 1, 2010

  2. The many meanings of “PIA” • 62 definitions of “PIA” • Some highlights • Philippine Information Agency • Pittsburgh International Airport • Pain in the A*#! • Paid in Advance • Personal Injury Accident • Propagation and Infection Analysis • Part in Assembly • Period of Insect Activity • Post Instructional Activity (aka “homework)

  3. PIA History – 41 USC §423 Original version enacted in 1989 Substantial revisions passed by Congress in 1996 New version took effect January 1, 1997 Implemented in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 3.104

  4. “Old School “ PIA Ban on “procurement officials” accepting gratuities from competing contractor during conduct of procurement Ban on discussing or seeking employment Annual PIA training required PIA certificates required 2-year post employment ban on procurement officials helping contractor perform on contract

  5. PIA “the Sequel” • Ban on disclosure of procurement information • Ban on obtaining procurement information • Requirement to report employment contacts • One-year ban on acceptance of compensation from the contractor

  6. Protection of Procurement Information • Disclosure of certain information prohibited prior to contract award • Contractor bid or proposal information • Source selection information [41 USC 423(a)(1); FAR 3.104-3(a)(1)] • Ban applies to: • Current and former federal employees • Contractor employees and consultants • Currently advising gov’t on the procurement • Previously advised gov’t on the procurement [41 USC 423(a)(2); FAR 3.104-3(a)(2)]

  7. Contractor or Bid Proposal Information • Cost or pricing data • Indirect costs & direct labor rates • Proprietary information about manufacturing processes, operations or techniques marked by the contractor IAW applicable law or regulation • Information marked by the contractor as “contractor bid or proposal information” • Information marked by the contractor IAW FAR clause 52.215-1(e), entitled “Restriction on disclosure and use of data” [FAR 3.104-1]

  8. What is Source Selection Information? • Bid prices submitted by bidders • Costs or prices submitted by offerors • Source selection plans • Technical evaluation plans • Technical evaluations of proposals • Cost or price evaluations of proposals • Competitive range determinations • Rankings of bids, proposals or competitors

  9. What is Source Selection Information? • Reports & evaluations of source selection panels, boards or advisory councils • Other information marked as “source selection information” [41 USC 423(f)(2)]

  10. Ban on Obtaining Procurement Information A person may not knowingly obtain “source selection information” or “contractor bid or proposal information” before contract award, other than as provided by law. [41 USC 423(b) FAR 3.104-3(b)]

  11. Reporting Employment Contacts • Applies to civilian and military personnel who (1) participate personally & substantially in a procurement; and (2) contact, or are contacted by, a bidder or offeror regarding possible employment • Contact to be reported to supervisor & DAEO or designee in writing • Possibility of employment must be rejected or employee must be disqualified from working on procurement until job discussions end & there is no arrangement for employment [41 USC 423(c); FAR 3.104-3(c)]

  12. Reporting Employment Contacts • Requirement applies only to contracts in excess of simplified acquisition threshold. [41 USC 423(c)(1)] • “Simplified acquisition threshold” generally means $100,000. [FAR 2.101] • Applies to contacts made between the date when bids or proposals are received and the contract award date.

  13. One Year Compensation Ban • Applies to personnel serving certain positions or who make certain types of decisions on a contract over $10 million [41 USC 423(d)(1); FAR 3.104-3(d)] • Ban covers compensation from the contractor as an employee, consultant, officer or director. [41 USC 423(d)(1)] • Ban may apply to military officers, enlisted military members, and Federal civilian employees. [FAR 3.104-1]

  14. Covered positions Source Selection Authority (SSA) Member of Source Selection Evaluation Board (SSEB) Chief of financial or technical evaluation team Program Manager Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO) Deputy Program Manager Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO)

  15. Decisions covered by one year ban • Decision to award a contract over $10 million • Decision to award a subcontract over $10 million • Decision to award a modification that is over $10 million of a contract or subcontract • Decision to award a task order or delivery order over $10 million

  16. Decisions covered by one year ban • Decision to establish overhead or other rates applicable to a contract or contracts valued over $10 million • Decision to approve issuance of a contract payment or payments over $10 million • Decision to pay or settle claim over $10 million

  17. When compensation ban begins • Date of contract award for PCOs, SSAs, SSEB members, evaluation team chiefs • Exception: If an individual was serving in the position on the date of contractor selection, but not on the date of contract award, the ban begins to run on date of contractor selection • Last day of service in position for PMs, DPMs & ACOs • Date of decision for decision makers

  18. One year compensation ban Does not apply to accepting compensation from any division or affiliate of a contractor that does not produce the “same or similar products or services” as the entity of the contractor that has the contract the person worked on. [41 USC 423(d)(2); FAR 3.104-3(d)(3)]

  19. Legal Advice • Individuals can request a legal opinion on whether the one-year ban applies to them [41 USC 423(d)(5); FAR 3.104-6] • Opinion must be issued within 30 days after receipt of written request (or as soon thereafter as practicable). [FAR 3.104-6(c)]

  20. Effect of legal opinion No knowing violation of the Act by requester or contractor if requester accepted compensation based upon good faith reliance on advisory opinion from agency ethics official If the requester or contractor has actual knowledge or reason to believe that the opinion is based upon fraudulent, misleading, or otherwise incorrect information, their reliance upon the opinion will not be deemed to be in good faith.” [FAR 3.104-6(d)(3)]

  21. Violations Contracting officer determines impact on pending award or selection of contractor Head of Contracting Activity (HCA) takes appropriate action Administrative remedies Criminal and civil penalties

  22. Questions

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