Councils grant extension for ethics comments

The comment period for a proposed Contractor Code of Ethics Rule will run several weeks longer than originally planned. Anyone interested in commenting now has until May 23 to do so.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council published a proposed rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation on Feb. 16. The comment period was originally set to expire April 17.

The proposed rule encourages all contractors to develop a written code of ethics. It requires such a code for companies that receive contract awards worth more than $5 million and with a performance period of more than 120 days.

Under the proposed rule, contractors who fall under that mandate would have 30 days from the award of the contract to develop a written code and 90 days to establish an employee ethics training program and internal controls to ensure compliance.

Commercial item contracts would be excluded.

The new FAR section created by the rule would have a "flowdown" provision, making the code of ethics requirements apply to subcontractors as well.