Ethics

Standards of Conduct and Ethics

The Ethics section of the Virginia Public Procurement Act (VPPA) outlines the conduct of public employees in procurement transactions.

Section 2.2-4369 of the Code of Virginia states:

"...no public employee having official responsibility for a procurement transaction shall participate in that transaction on behalf of the public body when the employee knows that:

1. The employee is contemporaneously employed by a bidder, offeror or contractor involved in the procurement transaction; or
2. The employee, the employee's partner, or any member of the employee's immediate family holds a position with a bidder, offeror or contractor such as an officer, director, trustee, partner or the like, or is employed in a capacity involving personal and substantial participation in the procurement transaction, or owns or controls an interest of more than five percent; or
3. The employee, the employee's partner, or any member of the employee's immediate family has a pecuniary interest arising from the procurement transaction; or
4. The employee, the employee's partner, or any member of the employee's immediate family is negotiating, or has an arrangement concerning, prospective employment with a bidder, offeror or contractor."

In addition, public employees shall not solicit or accept gifts from bidders, offerors, contractors, or subcontractors. Give-aways at trade fairs which are available to all participants and are generally acceptable.