Funds are entrusted to the City of Balch Springs by the public. It is imperative that all transactions committing City of Balch Springs funds observe the highest standard of ethics throughout the procurement process to ensure public trust.

Definitions

Corruption means the offering, giving, receiving or soliciting, directly or indirectly of anything of value to influence the action of staff in the procurement process or contract execution.

Fraud means the intentional, false representation or concealment of a material fact for the purpose of inducing another to act up on it to his/her disadvantage.

Collusion means a scheme or arrangement between two or more vendors / contractors, with or without knowledge of the City of Balch Springs, designed to establish prices at artificial, non-competitive levels.

Coercion means harming or threatening to harm, directly or indirectly, persons, or their property, to influence their participation in the procurement process, or affect the execution of a contract.

Gratuity means a payment, loan, subscription, advance, deposit of money, services, or anything of more than nominal value, present or promised, unless consideration of substantially equal or greater value is received.

Financial interest means anything of monetary value including, but not limited to:

• An interest in a business consisting of any stock, stock option, or similar ownership interest in such business, but excluding any interest arising solely by reason of investment in such business by a mutual, pension, or other institutional investment fund over which the staff member does not exercise control; or
• Receipt of, or the right or expectation to receive, any income in one or more of the following forms: a consulting fee, salary, allowance, forbearance, forgiveness, interest in real or personal property, dividend, royalty derived from the licensing of technology or other processes or products, rent, capital gain; or

Personal or professional interests include, but not limited to:

• ■ Any organization, or enterprise over which the staff member, alone or together with an immediate family member exercises a controlling interest; or
• ■ Any executive position or membership on the Offeror's board regardless of compensation.

Standard Practice

The City of Balch Springs procurement process must allow vendors/contractors to compete for business on a fair, equal and transparent basis. Staff associated with the procurement function, therefore are responsible for protecting the integrity of the procurement process and maintaining fairness in the treatment of all vendors/contractors.

The standard of conduct for all staff involved in procurement is to safeguard against conflicts of interest which may compromise the integrity and objectivity of the City of Balch Springs.

• During the pre-solicitation phase, staff must not allow vendors/contractors access to information, whether technical, financial or any other nature before such information is available at large.
• Further staff may not use unnecessary restrictive specifications, statements of work or terms of reference that may discourage competition;

APPROVED BY: POLICY DATE: REVISED DATE: