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Gifts
Principles of ethical conduct were established by Congress
on April 12, 1989, to ensure fair and exacting standards of
all executive branch employees. Executive Order 12674. The
Office of Government Ethics provides all principles and
regulations which can be found in The Standards of Ethical
Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch Handbook.
Generally, you, your spouse or dependent child may not solicit or accept a gift from anyone doing business or seeking to do business with NASA, or anyone whose interests may be affected by you in your official position. However, an exception to this rule is receipt of a gift of $20.00 in value or less per occasion, not to exceed $50.00 in aggregate value from the same source in a calendar year. The Government has adopted this rule to avoid the appearance that its employees can be bought or influenced by gifts.
A Government employee cannot receive compensation from any source other than the Government for teaching, speaking or writing that relates to the employee's official duties. Teaching, speaking or writiing is related to an employee's official duties if the activity is:
1) undertaken during official duty time;
2) requested because of an employee's official position, not
his or her expertise;
3) requested due to interests that may be affected
substantially by performance or nonperformance of the
employee's duties.
An employee may accept an award given for meritorious public service or achievements if given by a person who does not have interests that may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the employee's official duties. Awards and prizes that exceed $200 in value may be accepted upon a written determination from an Agency Ethics Official. The award must be part of an established program of recognition and the selection of the recipient is made pursuant to written standards.
Agency regulations require that an employee obtain prior approval before engaging in specific outside employment or activities. Outside employment is any form of compensated or uncompensated employment or business relationship. The exception to this rule is participation in activities in a non-profit source, but not if the activities are provided for compensation other than simple reimbursement of expenses. Completion of NASA Form C-231 is required for approval.
Federal employees have representational restrictions under three different sections of 18 U.S.C. Section 207:
- Lifetime bar because of personal and substantial
participation
- 2-year bar because of official responsibilities
- 1-year cooling-off period for senior officials at the SES
5 & 6 level
An employee has a duty to protect and conserve Government property and shall not use such property, or allow its use, for other than authorized purposes.
Government property includes any form of real or personal property in which the Government has an ownership, leasehold, or other property interest as well as any right or other intangible interest that is purchased with Government funds, including the services of contractor personnel. The term includes office supplies, telephone and other telecommunications equipment and services, the Government mails, automated data processing capabilities and reproduction facilities, Government records and Government vehicles.
The Hatch Act provides guidelines for Federal employees who wish to participate in political activities.
- May be candidates for public office in non-partisan elections
- May register and vote as they choose
- May assist in voter registration drives
- May express opinions about candidates and issues
- May contribute money to political organizations
- May attend political fundraising functions
- May attend and be active at political rallies and meetings
- May join and be an active member of a political party or club
- May sign nominating petitions
- May campaign for or against referendum questions, constitutional amendments, municipal ordinances
- May campaign for or against candidates in partisan elections
- May distribute campaign literature in partisan elections
- May hold office in political clubs or parties including serving as a delegate to a convention
- May NOT use their official authority or influence to interfere with an election
- May NOT solicit, accept or receive political contributions unless both individuals are members of the same Federal labor organization or employee organization and the one solicited is not a subordinate employee
- May NOT knowingly solicit or discourage the political activity of any person who has business before the Agency
- May NOT engage in political activity while on duty
- May NOT engage in political activity in any Government office
- May NOT engage in political activity while wearing an official uniform
- May NOT engage in political activity while using a Government vehicle
- May NOT be candidates for public office in partisan elections
- May NOT wear political buttons on duty
An employee must not participate in an official matter that may affect the employee's personal financial interest (18 USC 208).
A personal financial interest includes those of the employee, his or her spouse or minor child, a general business partner, or an organization in which the employer serves as an official, director or trustee. Financial interests include property, a business, an employment relationship, stocks, bonds, partnership interest, deed or trust, lien, stock, and commodity future.
18 USC 208 prohibits financial conflicts of interest between the employee's job responsibilities and his or her outside financial interests, including, those of his or her spouse, children, and outside or prospective employers.
Glenn's Designation Process
278's
All ST, SES, or excepted employees are required to file an Annual Public Financial Disclosure Form OGE 278. Filing is required on an annual basis to be completed by May 15.
450's
Managers determine which employees in their organization are required to file an annual Confidential Financial Disclosure Form 450 or 450a. Employees who must file are those who participate personally and substantially in contracting or procurement, administration or monitoring grants; regulating or auditing a non-Federal entity; using or disposing of excess property; and those who establish and enforce safety standards. Filing is required on an annual basis, to be completed by October 31.
In addition, anyone serving on an SEB or SEC is required to file a separate OGE 450.
Mandatory Training
Mandatory training for those who are required to file Financial Disclosure Reports is held from May through September.
Employees must not use their public office for their or another's personal gain. Employees cannot use their position to coerce or induce a benefit, use non-public information to further personal interest, or use their position in a manner that implies Government endorsement of personal activities.
Common misuse of official position include use of Government property for non-authorized purposes, use of official time for nonofficial duties and reference or recommendationletters written for contract employees, using NASA stationary implying NASA's endorsement of the individual.
1. OFFICIAL CAPACITY (Official Stationery/Title May Be Used)
A. Circumstances Giving Rise to CommunicationIn response to a request for information concerning a particular Glenn contract that is properly referred to you as the cognizant Glenn official.Type of Information Provided
Nonproprietary, factual description of the contract and its performance. Information concerning particular employees should be limited to that clearly discernable from contract file documents that would be releasable if requested under FOIA.Source of Information Provided
Only those facts available to you in your official capacity.B. Circumstances Giving Rise to Communication
A request from another Federal agency for a character reference or recommendation for a contractor employee applying for a Federal job.Type of Information Provided
Objective, factual information concerning contract performance as above, plus your subjective character reference or recommendation based on your personal knowledge.Source of Information Provided
Any information available to you in your official capacity.
2. PERSONAL CAPACITY (Official Stationery/Title May Not Be Used)
(Reference to official position in text only as one of a number of biographical details and/or accompanied by sufficiently clear disclaimer that the views presented in the letter are not those of Glenn and NASA.)
A. Circumstances Giving Rise to CommunicationIn response to a request for a letter of recommendation or reference check concerning a contractor employee, or on your own initiative.Type of Information Provided
Factual information, general opinions, character references, recommendations.Source of Information Provided
Information available to you from any source.
Related Links:
NASA Headquarters Ethics Website
*The existence of a procurement black out precludes the issuance of a letter of recommendation or any other communication (whether official or personal) that will be provided to a prime or subcontract competitor for consideration relative to such procurement. This information is not intended, and should not be used, as a substitute for ethics advice.
Ethics
