Comal County Purchasing Office Code of Ethics
CHAPTER 2: CODE OF ETHICS
PURCHASING CODE OF ETHICS POLICY
It is the policy of Comal County that the following ethical principles will govern the conduct of every employee directly or indirectly involved in the County procurement process.
RESPONSIBILITY TO COUNTY
Employees must avoid any activities that would compromise or give the perception of compromising the best interests of Comal County. Employees must not use confidential proprietary information for actual or anticipated personal gain.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
This Policy is governed by the highest ideals of honor and integrity in all public and personal relationships in order to merit the respect and inspire the confidence of the organization and the public being served. Employees must avoid any activity that would create a conflict between personal interests and the interests of Comal County. Conflicts exist in any relationship where an employee is not acting in the County’s best interest and may be acting in their own best interests or the interests of someone associated with them. Such conflicts of interest would include being involved in any procurement activity in which:
1. The employee or any member of the employee’s family [persons who are related to the employee within the first degree by consanguinity (blood) or affinity (marriage)] has any financial interest pertaining to the Comal County procurement process;
2. A business or organization in which the employee, or any member of the employee’s family, has a financial interest pertaining to the Comal County procurement process; or
3. Any other person, business, or organization with whom the employee or a member of the employee’s family is negotiating or has any arrangement concerning prospective employment.
If any such conflicts of interest exist, the employee must immediately notify the Purchasing Director in writing and remove himself/herself from the conflicted procurement activity.
PERCEPTION
Employees must avoid any appearance of unethical or compromising practices in all relationships, actions, and communications.
GRATUITIES
Employees must not solicit or accept money, loans, gifts, favors, or anything of value, from present or potential vendors which might influence or appear to influence any purchasing decision. Generally, goods with a value of $50.00 or less are acceptable as long as the acceptance will not offend this prohibition and does not appear to influence a purchasing decision. If anyone is in doubt whether a transaction complies with this policy, the individual should disclose the transaction to the Purchasing Director/legal representative for interpretation.
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
Employees must keep all proponents’ and vendors’ proprietary information confidential. Employees must maintain confidentiality on all Comal County procurement information obtained from an RFP, RFQ, or ITB confidential as long as that vendor information is retained by Comal County to the extent provided by state and federal law.