7 do's and 1 don't for avoiding conflicts of interest

What should a company remember about organizational conflicts of interest? Experts have narrowed down the to-do's to a few do's.

• Do understand the organizational conflicts of interest (OCI) rules and the different categories of OCIs.
• Do be particularly attuned to “impaired objectivity” OCIs.
• Do think broadly. OCIs are created at a companywide level, not simply a division or sector level.
• Do consider the long-range business plan for a particular procurement.
• Do be aware that winning a small, preliminary award could create conflicts on a massive, future award.
• Do be aware of the potential restrictions on follow-on contracts that might accompany system engineering and technical assistance work.
• Do ensure that every proposal considers and, as required, implements an OCI mitigation plan.
• Do not simply ignore an institutional competitive advantage when preparing a proposal.

Source: Government Contracts Blog, Sheppard Mullins law firm