§ 789. Organizational conflicts

• (a) Information bearing on possible conflict of interest

  The Administrator shall, by rule, require any person proposing to enter into a contract, agreement, or other arrangement, whether by competitive bid or negotiation, under this chapter or any other law administered by him for the conduct of research, development, evaluation activities, or for technical and management support services, to provide the Administrator, prior to entering into any such contract, agreement, or arrangement, with all relevant information, as determined by the Administrator, bearing on whether that person has a possible conflict of interest with respect to -

  • (1) being able to render impartial, technically sound, or objective assistance or advice in light of other activities or relationships with other persons, or
  • (2) being given an unfair competitive advantage. Such person shall insure, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Administrator, compliance with this section by any subcontractor (other than a supply subcontractor) of such person in the case of any subcontract of more than $10,000.
• (b) Required finding that no conflict of interest exists or that conflicts have been avoided; mitigation of conflict when conflict is unavoidable The Administrator shall not enter into any such contract, agreement, or arrangement unless he finds, after evaluating all information provided under subsection (a) of this section and any other information otherwise available to him that -
  • (1) it is unlikely that a conflict of interest would exist, or
  • (2) such conflict has been avoided after appropriate conditions have been included in such contract, agreement, or arrangement; except that if he determines that such conflict of interest exists and that such conflict of interest cannot be avoided by including appropriate conditions therein, the Administrator may enter into such contract, agreement, or arrangement, if he determines that it is in the best interests of the United States to do so and includes appropriate conditions in such contract, agreement, or arrangement to mitigate such conflict.
• (c) Rules and regulations

  The Administrator shall publish rules for the implementation of this section, in accordance with section 553 of title 5 (without regard to subsection (a)(2) thereof) as soon as practicable after July 21, 1977, but in no event later than 120 days after such date.