Part52

FAR 52.203-13 - 52.203-13 Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct.

Current Status

DEVIATION ACTIVE

WARNING: This clause is affected by 1 active class deviation. Use the deviation text, NOT the standard clause text from the eCFR.
Last Checked2026-03-11 19:18 UTC
Authoritative Sourcehttps://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-48/section-52.203-13

Active Class Deviations

2023-O0008 - Class Deviation 2023-O0008 – Commercial Products and Commercial Services Omnibus Clause for Acquisitions Using the Procurement Desktop-Defense System

Effective: None
Effect: MODIFY

Modify clause 52.203-13

Compare clause text (side-by-side)

Standard Clause Text (eCFR)

52.203-13 Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct. As prescribed in 3.1004(a), insert the following clause: Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (NOV 2021) (a) Definitions. As used in this clause— Agent means any individual, including a director, an officer, an employee, or an independent Contractor, authorized to act on behalf of the organization. Full cooperation —(1) Means disclosure to the Government of the information sufficient for law enforcement to identify the nature and extent of the offense and the individuals responsible for the conduct. It includes providing timely and complete response to Government auditors' and investigators' request for documents and access to employees with information; (2) Does not foreclose any Contractor rights arising in law, the FAR, or the terms of the contract. It does not require— (i) A Contractor to waive its attorney-client privilege or the protections afforded by the attorney work product doctrine; or (ii) Any officer, director, owner, or employee of the Contractor, including a sole proprietor, to waive his or her attorney client privilege or Fifth Amendment rights; and (3) Does not restrict a Contractor from— (i) Conducting an internal investigation; or (ii) Defending a proceeding or dispute arising under the contract or related to a potential or disclosed violation. Principal means an officer, director, owner, partner, or a person having primary management or supervisory responsibilities within a business entity ( e.g. , general manager; plant manager; head of a division or business segment; and similar positions). Subcontract means any contract entered into by a subcontractor to furnish supplies or services for performance of a prime contract or a subcontract. Subcontractor means any supplier, distributor, vendor, or firm that furnished supplies or services to or for a prime contractor or another subcontractor. United States means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and outlying areas. (b) Code of business ethics and conduct. (1) Within 30 days after contract award, unless the Contracting Officer establishes a longer time period, the Contractor shall— (i) Have a written code of business ethics and conduct; (ii) Make a copy of the code available to each employee engaged in performance of the contract. (2) The Contractor shall— (i) Exercise due diligence to prevent and detect criminal conduct; and (ii) Otherwise promote an organizational culture that encourages ethical conduct and a commitment to compliance with the law. (3)(i) The Contractor shall timely disclose, in writing, to the agency Office of the Inspector General (OIG), with a copy to the Contracting Officer, whenever, in connection with the award, performance, or closeout of this contract or any subcontract thereunder, the Contractor has credible evidence that a principal, employee, agent, or subcontractor of the Contractor has committed— (A) A violation of Federal criminal law involving fraud, conflict of interest, bribery, or gratuity violations found in Title 18 of the United States Code; or (B) A violation of the civil False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. 3729-3733). (ii) The Government, to the extent permitted by law and regulation, will safeguard and treat information obtained pursuant to the Contractor's disclosure as confidential where the information has been marked “confidential” or “proprietary” by the company. To the extent permitted by law and regulation, such information will not be released by the Government to the public pursuant to a Freedom of Information Act request, 5 U.S.C. Section 552, without prior notification to the Contractor. The Government may transfer documents provided by the Contractor to any department or agency within the Executive Branch if the information relates to matters within the organization's jurisdiction. (iii) If the violation relates to an order against a Governmentwide acquisition contract, a multi-agency contract, a multiple-award schedule contract such as the Federal Supply Schedule, or any other procurement instrument intended for use by multiple agencies, the Contractor shall notify the OIG of the ordering agency and the IG of the agency responsible for the basic contract. (c) Business ethics awareness and compliance program and internal control system. This paragraph (c) does not apply if the Contractor has represented itself as a small business concern pursuant to the award of this contract or if this contract is for the acquisition of a commercial product or commercial service as defined at FAR 2.101. The Contractor shall establish the following within 90 days after contract award, unless the Contracting Officer establishes a longer time period: (1) An ongoing business ethics awareness and compliance program. (i) This program shall include reasonable steps to communicate periodically and in a practical manner the Contractor's standards and procedures and other aspects of the Contractor's business ethics awareness and compliance program and internal control system, by conducting effective training programs and otherwise disseminating information appropriate to an individual's respective roles and responsibilities. (ii) The training conducted under this program shall be provided to the Contractor's principals and employees, and as appropriate, the Contractor's agents and subcontractors. (2) An internal control system. (i) The Contractor's internal control system shall— (A) Establish standards and procedures to facilitate timely discovery of improper conduct in connection with Government contracts; and (B) Ensure corrective measures are promptly instituted and carried out. (ii) At a minimum, the Contractor's internal control system shall provide for the following: (A) Assignment of responsibility at a sufficiently high level and adequate resources to ensure effectiveness of the business ethics awareness and compliance program and internal control system. (B) Reasonable efforts not to include an individual as a principal, whom due diligence would have exposed as having engaged in conduct that is in conflict with the Contractor's code of business ethics and conduct. (C) Periodic reviews of company business practices, procedures, policies, and internal controls for compliance with the Contractor's code of business ethics and conduct and the special requirements of Government contracting, including— ( 1 ) Monitoring and auditing to detect criminal conduct; ( 2 ) Periodic evaluation of the effectiveness of the business ethics awareness and compliance program and internal control system, especially if criminal conduct has been detected; and ( 3 ) Periodic assessment of the risk of criminal conduct, with appropriate steps to design, implement, or modify the business ethics awareness and compliance program and the internal control system as necessary to reduce the risk of criminal conduct identified through this process. (D) An internal reporting mechanism, such as a hotline, which allows for anonymity or confidentiality, by which employees may report suspected instances of improper conduct, and instructions that encourage employees to make such reports. (E) Disciplinary action for improper conduct or for failing to take reasonable steps to prevent or detect improper conduct. (F) Timely disclosure, in writing, to the agency OIG, with a copy to the Contracting Officer, whenever, in connection with the award, performance, or closeout of any Government contract performed by the Contractor or a subcontractor thereunder, the Contractor has credible evidence that a principal, employee, agent, or subcontractor of the Contractor has committed a violation of Federal criminal law involving fraud, conflict of interest, bribery, or gratuity violations found in Title 18 U.S.C. or a violation of the civil False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. 3729-3733). ( 1 ) If a violation relates to more than one Government contract, the Contractor may make the disclosure to the agency OIG and Contracting Officer responsible for the largest dollar value contract impacted by the violation. ( 2 ) If the violation relates to an order against a Governmentwide acquisition contract, a multi-agency contract, a multiple-award schedule contract such as the Federal Supply Schedule, or any other procurement instrument intended for use by multiple agencies, the contractor shall notify the OIG of the ordering agency and the IG of the agency responsible for the basic contract, and the respective agencies' contracting officers. ( 3 ) The disclosure requirement for an individual contract continues until at least 3 years after final payment on the contract. ( 4 ) The Government will safeguard such disclosures in accordance with paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of this clause. (G) Full cooperation with any Government agencies responsible for audits, investigations, or corrective actions. (d) Subcontracts. (1) The Contractor shall include the substance of this clause, including this paragraph (d), in subcontracts that exceed the threshold specified in FAR 3.1004(a) on the date of subcontract award and a performance period of more than 120 days. (2) In altering this clause to identify the appropriate parties, all disclosures of violation of the civil False Claims Act or of Federal criminal law shall be directed to the agency Office of the Inspector General, with a copy to the Contracting Officer.
(End of clause)
[72 FR 65882, Nov. 23, 2007, as amended at 73 FR 67091, Nov. 12, 2008; 75 FR 14066, Mar. 23, 2010; 80 FR 38299, July 2, 2015; 85 FR 27091, May 6, 2020; 86 FR 61032, Nov. 4, 2021]

As Modified by Deviation

52.203-13, Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (NOV 2021) (41 U.S.C. 3509). (ii) 52.203-19, Prohibition on Requiring Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements (JAN 2017) (section 743 of Division E, Title VII, of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Pub. L. 113-235) and its successor provisions in subsequent appropriations acts (and as extended in continuing resolutions)). (iii) 52.204-23, Prohibition on Contracting for Hardware, Software, and Services Developed or Provided by Kaspersky Lab and Other Covered Entities (NOV 2021) (Section 1634 of Pub. L. 115-91). (iv) 52.204–25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment. (NOV 2021) (Section 889(a)(1)(A) of Pub. L. 115– 232). (v) 52.204–27, Prohibition on a ByteDance Covered Application (JUN 2023) (Section 102 of Division R of Pub. L. 117–328). (vi) 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (SEP 2023) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(2) and (3)), in all subcontracts that offer further subcontracting opportunities. If the subcontract (except subcontracts to small business concerns) exceeds the applicable threshold specified in FAR 19.702(a) on the date of subcontract award, the subcontractor must include 52.219-8 in lower tier subcontracts that offer subcontracting opportunities. (vii) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (APR 2015). (viii) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (SEP 2016) (E.O. 11246). (ix) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (JUN 2020) (38 U.S.C. 4212). (x) 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (JUN 2020) (29 U.S.C. 793). (xi) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (JUN 2020) (38 U.S.C. 4212). (xii) 52.222-40, Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (DEC 2010) (E.O. 13496). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (f) of FAR clause 52.222-40. (xiii) 52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards (AUG 2018) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67). (xiv)__(A) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (NOV 2021) (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627). __(B) Alternate I (Mar 2015) of 52.222-50 (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627). Page 2 of 5 Attachment Class Deviation 2023-O0008 Commercial Products and Commercial Services Omnibus Clause for Acquisitions Using the Procurement Desktop-Defense System Changes are indicated by a change bar in the right-hand margin. (xv) 52.222-51, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Act to Contracts for Maintenance, Calibration, or Repair of Certain Equipment-Requirements (MAY 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67). (xvi) 52.222-53, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Act to Contracts for Certain Services-Requirements (MAY 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67). (xvii) 52.222-54, Employment Eligibility Verification (MAY 2022) (E.O. 12989). (xviii) 52.222-55, Minimum Wages for Contractor Workers Under Executive Order 14026 (JAN 2022). (xix) 52.222-62 Paid Sick Leave Under Executive Order 13706 (JAN 2022) (E.O. 13706). (xx)(A) 52.224-3, Privacy Training (JAN 2017) (5 U.S.C. 552a). (B) Alternate I (JAN 2017) of 52.224-3. (xxi) 52.225-26, Contractors Performing Private Security Functions Outside the United States (OCT 2016) (Section 862, as amended, of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008; 10 U.S.C. Subtitle A, Part V, Subpart G Note). (xxii) 52.226-6, Promoting Excess Food Donation to Nonprofit Organizations (JUN 2020) (42 U.S.C. 1792). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (e) of FAR clause 52.226-6. (xxiii) 52.232–40, Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors (MAR 2023) (31 U.S.C. 3903 and 10 U.S.C. 3801). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (c) of 52.232–40. (xxiv) 52.247–64, Preference for Privately Owned U.S.-Flag Commercial Vessels (NOV 2021) (46 U.S.C. 55305 and 10 U.S.C. 2631). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (d) of FAR clause 52.247–64. (2) While not required, the Contractor may include in its subcontracts for commercial products and commercial services a minimal number of additional clauses necessary to satisfy its contractual obligations.
(End of clause)
Alternate I (2023-OZZZZ) (OCT 2023). As prescribed in 12.301(b)(4)(i), delete paragraph (a)
from the basic deviation clause, redesignate paragraph (b)(1) as paragraph (a), and redesignate paragraphs (b)(1)(i) through (b)(1)(xxiv) as paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(24) and redesignate paragraph (b)(2) as paragraph (b). Alternate II (2023-OZZZZ) (OCT 2023). As prescribed in 12.301(b)(4)(ii), substitute the following paragraphs (a)(1) and (b)(1) for paragraphs (a)(1) and (b)(1) of the basic deviation clause as follows: Page 3 of 5 Attachment Class Deviation 2023-O0008 Commercial Products and Commercial Services Omnibus Clause for Acquisitions Using the Procurement Desktop-Defense System Changes are indicated by a change bar in the right-hand margin. (a)(1) The Comptroller General of the United States, an appropriate ...

Full Current Text

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52.203-13 Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct.

As prescribed in 3.1004(a), insert the following clause:

Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (NOV 2021)

(a)
Definitions.
As used in this clause—

Agent
means any individual, including a director, an officer, an employee, or an independent Contractor, authorized to act on behalf of the organization.

Full cooperation
—(1) Means disclosure to the Government of the information sufficient for law enforcement to identify the nature and extent of the offense and the individuals responsible for the conduct. It includes providing timely and complete response to Government auditors' and investigators' request for documents and access to employees with information;

(2) Does not foreclose any Contractor rights arising in law, the FAR, or the terms of the contract. It does not require—

(i) A Contractor to waive its attorney-client privilege or the protections afforded by the attorney work product doctrine; or

(ii) Any officer, director, owner, or employee of the Contractor, including a sole proprietor, to waive his or her attorney client privilege or Fifth Amendment rights; and

(3) Does not restrict a Contractor from—

(i) Conducting an internal investigation; or

(ii) Defending a proceeding or dispute arising under the contract or related to a potential or disclosed violation.

Principal
means an officer, director, owner, partner, or a person having primary management or supervisory responsibilities within a business entity (
e.g.
, general manager; plant manager; head of a division or business segment; and similar positions).

Subcontract
means any contract entered into by a subcontractor to furnish supplies or services for performance of a prime contract or a subcontract.

Subcontractor
means any supplier, distributor, vendor, or firm that furnished supplies or services to or for a prime contractor or another subcontractor.

United States
means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and outlying areas.

(b)
Code of business ethics and conduct.
(1) Within 30 days after contract award, unless the Contracting Officer establishes a longer time period, the Contractor shall—

(i) Have a written code of business ethics and conduct;

(ii) Make a copy of the code available to each employee engaged in performance of the contract.

(2) The Contractor shall—

(i) Exercise due diligence to prevent and detect criminal conduct; and

(ii) Otherwise promote an organizational culture that encourages ethical conduct and a commitment to compliance with the law.

(3)(i) The Contractor shall timely disclose, in writing, to the agency Office of the Inspector General (OIG), with a copy to the Contracting Officer, whenever, in connection with the award, performance, or closeout of this contract or any subcontract thereunder, the Contractor has credible evidence that a principal, employee, agent, or subcontractor of the Contractor has committed—

(A) A violation of Federal criminal law involving fraud, conflict of interest, bribery, or gratuity violations found in Title 18 of the United States Code; or

(B) A violation of the civil False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. 3729-3733).

(ii) The Government, to the extent permitted by law and regulation, will safeguard and treat information obtained pursuant to the Contractor's disclosure as confidential where the information has been marked “confidential” or “proprietary” by the company. To the extent permitted by law and regulation, such information will not be released by the Government to the public pursuant to a Freedom of Information Act request, 5 U.S.C. Section 552, without prior notification to the Contractor. The Government may transfer documents provided by the Contractor to any department or agency within the Executive Branch if the information relates to matters within the organization's jurisdiction.

(iii) If the violation relates to an order against a Governmentwide acquisition contract, a multi-agency contract, a multiple-award schedule contract such as the Federal Supply Schedule, or any other procurement instrument intended for use by multiple agencies, the Contractor shall notify the OIG of the ordering agency and the IG of the agency responsible for the basic contract.

(c) Business ethics awareness and compliance program and internal control system. This paragraph (c) does not apply if the Contractor has represented itself as a small business concern pursuant to the award of this contract or if this contract is for the acquisition of a commercial product or commercial service as defined at FAR 2.101. The Contractor shall establish the following within 90 days after contract award, unless the Contracting Officer establishes a longer time period:

(1) An ongoing business ethics awareness and compliance program.

(i) This program shall include reasonable steps to communicate periodically and in a practical manner the Contractor's standards and procedures and other aspects of the Contractor's business ethics awareness and compliance program and internal control system, by conducting effective training programs and otherwise disseminating information appropriate to an individual's respective roles and responsibilities.

(ii) The training conducted under this program shall be provided to the Contractor's principals and employees, and as appropriate, the Contractor's agents and subcontractors.

(2) An internal control system.

(i) The Contractor's internal control system shall—

(A) Establish standards and procedures to facilitate timely discovery of improper conduct in connection with Government contracts; and

(B) Ensure corrective measures are promptly instituted and carried out.

(ii) At a minimum, the Contractor's internal control system shall provide for the following:

(A) Assignment of responsibility at a sufficiently high level and adequate resources to ensure effectiveness of the business ethics awareness and compliance program and internal control system.

(B) Reasonable efforts not to include an individual as a principal, whom due diligence would have exposed as having engaged in conduct that is in conflict with the Contractor's code of business ethics and conduct.

(C) Periodic reviews of company business practices, procedures, policies, and internal controls for compliance with the Contractor's code of business ethics and conduct and the special requirements of Government contracting, including—

(
1
) Monitoring and auditing to detect criminal conduct;

(
2
) Periodic evaluation of the effectiveness of the business ethics awareness and compliance program and internal control system, especially if criminal conduct has been detected; and

(
3
) Periodic assessment of the risk of criminal conduct, with appropriate steps to design, implement, or modify the business ethics awareness and compliance program and the internal control system as necessary to reduce the risk of criminal conduct identified through this process.

(D) An internal reporting mechanism, such as a hotline, which allows for anonymity or confidentiality, by which employees may report suspected instances of improper conduct, and instructions that encourage employees to make such reports.

(E) Disciplinary action for improper conduct or for failing to take reasonable steps to prevent or detect improper conduct.

(F) Timely disclosure, in writing, to the agency OIG, with a copy to the Contracting Officer, whenever, in connection with the award, performance, or closeout of any Government contract performed by the Contractor or a subcontractor thereunder, the Contractor has credible evidence that a principal, employee, agent, or subcontractor of the Contractor has committed a violation of Federal criminal law involving fraud, conflict of interest, bribery, or gratuity violations found in Title 18 U.S.C. or a violation of the civil False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. 3729-3733).

(
1
) If a violation relates to more than one Government contract, the Contractor may make the disclosure to the agency OIG and Contracting Officer responsible for the largest dollar value contract impacted by the violation.

(
2
) If the violation relates to an order against a Governmentwide acquisition contract, a multi-agency contract, a multiple-award schedule contract such as the Federal Supply Schedule, or any other procurement instrument intended for use by multiple agencies, the contractor shall notify the OIG of the ordering agency and the IG of the agency responsible for the basic contract, and the respective agencies' contracting officers.

(
3
) The disclosure requirement for an individual contract continues until at least 3 years after final payment on the contract.

(
4
) The Government will safeguard such disclosures in accordance with paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of this clause.

(G) Full cooperation with any Government agencies responsible for audits, investigations, or corrective actions.

(d)
Subcontracts.
(1) The Contractor shall include the substance of this clause, including this paragraph (d), in subcontracts that exceed the threshold specified in FAR 3.1004(a) on the date of subcontract award and a performance period of more than 120 days.

(2) In altering this clause to identify the appropriate parties, all disclosures of violation of the civil False Claims Act or of Federal criminal law shall be directed to the agency Office of the Inspector General, with a copy to the Contracting Officer.

(End of clause)

[72 FR 65882, Nov. 23, 2007, as amended at 73 FR 67091, Nov. 12, 2008; 75 FR 14066, Mar. 23, 2010; 80 FR 38299, July 2, 2015; 85 FR 27091, May 6, 2020; 86 FR 61032, Nov. 4, 2021]