4-21. RELEASE OF ACQUISITION INFORMATION
a. Keeping Acquisition Information Confidential. It is the individual
responsibility of all personnel, military and civilian, of the DA to refrain from releasing to
any individual or an individual business concern or its representatives any knowledge
such personnel may possess or have acquired in any way concerning acquisition or
purchases by any contracting activity of the DOD.
b. Simultaneous Release to All Contractors. Acquisition information must be
released to all potential contractors as nearly simultaneously as possible and only through
duly-designated agencies, so that one potential source of supply may not be given an
advantage over another. All dissemination of such information must be in accordance
with existing authorized procedures and only in connection with the necessary and proper
discharge of official duties.
4-22. AWARDING OF CONTRACTS
a. Official Information Only. Only contracting officers and their duly-authorized
representatives acting with their authority are authorized to commit the government with
respect to award of contracts. Unauthorized discussion and commitments may place the
DA in the position of not acting in good faith. Unauthorized personnel must refrain from
making any commitment or promise relating to the awarding of contracts and must not
make any representation which might be construed as such a commitment.
b. No Preferential Treatment. Department of Army personnel must never advise
a business representative that an attempt will be made to influence another person or
agency to give preferential treatment to his or her concern in the award of future
contracts. Persons requesting preferential treatment will be informed by official letter that
DA contracts are awarded only in accordance with established contracting procedures.
Section VI. REPORTING SUSPECTED VIOLATIONS OF LAWS
4-23. IMPORTANCE OF REPORTING SUSPECTED VIOLATIONS
a. Responsibility to Report. The responsibility to report suspected violations of
laws exists where there are circumstances that reasonably warrant the suspicion of fraud
or criminal conduct. The fact that the evidence at the time of this reasonable suspicion is
not conclusive or that certain facts are not known is to be expected and is no basis for
failure to report. The purpose in reporting is to protect the interests of the government
and to ensure the earliest possible referral to the proper investigative agency to obtain
and preserve such evidence as may exist. Food inspection personnel should report all
intentional conduct which:
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