Part II: Knowing Your Tools
Proper Card Use

Every builder needs to know the power of his or her tools and how to use them properly. This section will outline how to properly use your purchase charge card and carefully watch for potential card misuse.

Standards of Ethical Conduct

Further information regarding the ethical conduct of federal government employees can be found on the Office of Government Ethics website at www.usoge.gov/pages/
laws_regs_fedreg_stats/laws_regs.html.

An employee shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit or accept a gift from a prohibited source or a gift that is offered because of the employee's official position. A gift is considered to be anything of monetary value, such as: gratuities, favors, discounts, entertainment, hospitality, loans, forbearance (forgiveness of a loan), services, training, transportation, travel, meals, lodging, etc.

What does it mean to accept a gift directly or indirectly? Direct acceptance is straightforward - you accept the gift. Indirect acceptance means that someone gives a gift, with your knowledge and acquiescence, to someone else, possibly your spouse or child, a sibling or other dependent relative because of that person's relationship to you. A gift could also be indirectly given to any other "person," including any charitable organization, at your recommendation or designation.

The definition of gifts is broad, but the gift rules specifically exclude certain things from being classified as gifts. The gift exclusions are:

1. Modest items of food and refreshments, such as soft drinks, coffee and donuts, offered other than as part of a meal
2. Greeting cards and items with little intrinsic value, such as plaques, certificates and trophies, which are intended solely for presentation
3. Loans from banks and other financial institutions on terms generally available to the public
4. Opportunities and benefits, including favorable rates and commercial discounts, available to the public or to a class consisting of all government employees or all uniformed military personnel, whether or not restricted on the basis of geographic considerations
5. Rewards and prizes given to competitors in contests or events, including random drawings, open to the public - unless the employee's entry into the contest or event is required as part of his official duties
6. Pensions and other benefits resulting from continued participation in an employee welfare and benefits plan maintained by a former employer
7. Anything which is paid for by the government or secured by the government under government contract
8. Any gift accepted by the government under specific statutory authority, including:
   • Travel, subsistence, and related expenses accepted by an agency under the authority of 31 U.S.C. 1353 in connection with an employee's attendance at a meeting or similar function relating to his/her official duties which takes place away from his/her duty station. The agency's acceptance must be in accordance with the implementing regulations at 41 CFR Part 304-1
   • Other gifts provided in-kind which have been accepted by an agency under its agency gift acceptance statute
9. Anything for which market value is paid by the employee