Ethics in contracting practices and professional standards

Ethics in Contracting

Government is full of many hundreds and thousands of people earning their living through service. It is important that this idea of service is kept in mind as the collective purpose should supersede that of the individual who has chosen to work for the government. The idealism behind organized governments warrant an ethical code to help ensure the sanctity of government is preserved. This moral imperative is stressed even more when we examine those who have served in government and can use that experience to further themselves in post government employment. This unique position therefore places unique ethical requirements on those who are seeking post government employment.

The purpose of this essay is to discuss the importance of ethics within post government employment and the need for ethical awareness to guarantee fairness. This essay will suggest that government employment at many levels is generally lacking any real ethical ideal that reflects the idea of service to one's country when they decide to take employment or contracts with the government.

Developing an Ethical Code

Before developing an ethical code within the realms of post government employment it is first imperative to realize the goals and purposes of what government is and does. The word "government" itself is Latin in origin and means controlling the mind. Is government responsible for ensuring that each individuals mental state is protected ? I don't think that is the case but the power of the government to regulate commerce, wage war and direct policy suggests that there are many practical and material effects of the government's actions.

An ethical code should therefore represent fairness and a sense of justice. Reason and rational thought should resonate from this code and it should be respected as an ideal. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provides some coverage to rules of federal contracting through the executive branch. According to this document, the FAR "is established for the codification and publication of uniform policies and procedures for acquisition by all executive agencies. " Performance standards and very complex policies are listed throughout the FAR, but there is no real ethical code expressed.

The compartmentalization of government itself has relegated ethics to be separated into a different branch of the executive. The U.S. Office of Government Ethics is a guiding force for the federal government contracting markets. According to their website " he mission of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) is to foster high ethical standards for executive branch employees and strengthen the public's confidence that the Government's business is conducted with impartiality and integrity."

Issues in Post Government Employment

The biggest problem in ethics in dealing with post government employment is that the exposure of this failure has devastating effects. A collective shame is often felt when rampant waste and abuse are noticed. Government workers and contractors need to understand that their business dealing are on a higher level of collective good and that their actions are more impactful than in the real business world where ethics really don't apply in the same manner.

The simple and easy pathways that lead from the public service realm to the government contracting realm suggests that the system may be readily taken advantage of by those who know how to manipulate the system. Schouten (2013) explained how rampant this occurs within the confines of our government. She wrote " it's common for former members of Congress to find work in the influence industry. A recent analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics found that 30 House members and senators who left office during the last Congress now work for lobbying firms or for interests that lobby the federal government. They account for nearly two-thirds of the former lawmakers from the 112th Congress that the center has identified as having new jobs."

Since government is responsible for law, the perspective of ethics is often left out. This is due to the significant differences between law and ethics. Dallimore (2006) suggested that this was an important issue in understanding the role of ethics within the government employment markets. She wrote "laws are a manifestation of societal values. For example we all agree that rigging bids and taking bribes is wrong. But law does not address the moral questions government purchasers face. How does a government purchaser obey the law, and, when called to task, retain the ability to stand up and say "my conduct was both legal and ethical"? Law and ethics are not necessarily synonymous. A definition of ethics may help in understanding the difference." Ethics are ideals and principles manifested into behavior and attitude. They are not material, they are causes of behavior.