b.  Report Violations to the Inspector General

Comments: Several agency respondents recommend that the report be made to the Inspector General, as well as the contracting officer.

Response: Not all employee personal conflict-of- interest violations are violations of criminal law or nefarious. The contractor's report is treated here as a contractual issue to be addressed first by the contractor and then by the contracting officer. There is no reason to add a third party, such as the Inspector General, unless violation of Federal criminal law has occurred. In those cases, a report to the Inspector General will already be required in accordance with FAR 52.203-13(b)(3). On the other hand, nothing in this rule prevents individual agencies and their Inspector General from establishing internal procedures for coordinating contractor reports.