Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) and Conflict of Interest (COI)
Conflicts of Interest can arise at the individual or business level. Organizational conflict of interest means that because of other activities or relationships with other persons, a person is unable or potentially unable to render impartial assistance or advice to the Government, or the person’s objectivity in performing the contract work is or might be otherwise impaired, or a person has an unfair competitive advantage. (Source: FAR 2.101)
Personal conflicts of interest occur when contractor staff, including spouses and dependent children, receive personal financial reward from an external company, agency, institution, individual, or any other entity which may bias the individual’s judgment, or compromise his or her ability to carry out their contractual obligation to the contracting organization.