GAO Issues Surprising Decision Downplaying Impact of Alleged OCI

Fox Rothschild – Organizational conflicts of interest (or “OCI”) generally exist when one party has access to nonpublic information as part of its performance on a government contract. OCI — or even the appearance of OCI — can be a landmine for Federal contractors.  Unresolved OCI can lead to exclusion from a contract competition, contract termination, and even suspension / debarment. In light of the many forms that OCI can take and the serious consequences associated with a violation, it was surprising to see GAO dismiss a recent protest involving self-evident OCI concerns.