20C - AA FOR METER INFRASTRUCTURE

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Page 23 of 52 (c) (1) The non -Federal entity must maintain written standards of conduct covering conflicts of interest and governing the actions of its employees engaged in the selection, award and administration of contracts. No employee, officer, or agent may participate in the selection, award, or administration of a contract supported by a Federal award if he or she has a real or apparent conflict of interest. Such a conflict of interest would arise when the employee, officer, or agent, any member of his or her immediate family, his or her partner, or an organization which employs or is about to employ any of the parties indicated herein, has a financial or other interest in or a tangible personal benefit from a firm considered for a contract. The officers, employees, and agents of the non -Federal entity may neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from contractors or parties to subcontracts. However, non -Federal entities may set standards for situations in which the financial interest is not substantial or the gift is an unsolicited item of nominal value. The standards of conduct must provide for disciplinary actions to be applied for violations of such standards by officers, employees, or agents of the non -Federal entity. (2) If the non -Federal entity has a parent, affiliate, or subsidiary organization that is not a state, local government, or Indian tribe, the non -Federal entity must also maintain written standards of conduct covering organizational conflicts of interest. Organizational conflicts of interest means that because of relationships with a parent company, affiliate, or subsidiary organization, the non -Federal entity is unable or appears to be unable to be impartial in conducting a procurement action involving a related organization. (d) The non -Federal entity's procedures must avoid acquisition of unnecessary or duplicative items. Consideration should be given to consolidating or breaking out procurements to obtain a more economical purchase. Where appropriate, an analysis will be made of lease versus purchase alternatives, and any other appropriate analysis to determine the most economical approach. (e) To foster greater economy and efficiency, and in accordance with efforts to promote cost- effective use of shared services across the Federal Government, the non -Federal entity is encouraged to enter into state and local intergovernmental agreements or inter -entity agreements where appropriate for procurement or use of common or shared goods and services. (f) The non -Federal entity is encouraged to use Federal excess and surplus property in lieu of purchasing new equipment and property whenever such use is feasible and reduces project costs. (g) The non -Federal entity is encouraged to use value engineering clauses in contracts for construction projects of sufficient size to offer reasonable opportunities for cost reductions. Value engineering is a systematic and creative analysis of each contract item or task to ensure that its essential function is provided at the overall lower cost. Agreement No. R20AP00075 Agreement Template 20 C -2 5 (03/2019)