Avoiding potential conflict

The form and nature of payment for services is of considerable importance. To the extent that payments for your services come directly to you from another party (instead of through a contract with the Center), you must carry out that work as a private in dividual and not as a VA employee, and it must be cleared in advance with the Center Director. Consultation will normally not be approved for work related to your VA appointment unless it can be established that there is a benefit to the VA. As an emp loyee of the VA, your primary obligation is clear.

For example, even though the manufacturer can legitimately state that the product was developed and tested in the prototype stages by the VA, Federal employees are not permitted to endorse a specific product made by a manufacturer. If you are providing a service to the manufacturer, you have to be careful that your primary role and responsibilities are as delimited by VA regulations.

Remember, it is your responsibility to do the following:

• Make all your agreements and arrangements a matter of public record, with prior approval in all cases.
  
  
• Avoid situations where conflict of interest (or the appearance of conflict of interest) arises.
  
  
• Avoid situations where you seem to be using one position to the advantage of the other.
  
  
• Avoid situations where you appear to be paid twice for the same work.

Investigator

Transfer Officer

Center Director