As outlined in the ‘Oversight and Accountability of Corporations’ section in the VHA Handbook 1200.17, the Department of Veterans Affairs has mandated additional regulations for VA non-profit research and education corporations. One specific requirement is the mandatory yearly verification by the corporation’s Executive Director verifying that each NPC board member, officer, and employee has certified an awareness of, and compliance with such laws and regulations pertaining to conduct and conflicts of interest in the same manner required of Federal Employees.

In addition, 38 U.S.C. § 7366 (c)(2) requires that each employee must certify that he or she will comply with the federal laws and regulations applicable to Federal employees with respect to conflicts of interest. The Standards of Ethical Conduct are codified in 5 CFR Part 2635.

SAMPLE STATEMENT CERTIFYING COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL CONDUCT AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST LAWS

Helpful Links

http://www.usoge.gov - the U.S. Office of Government Ethics website

Click on "Forms, Publications and Other Ethics Documents", then click on "Reference Publications".  Publications of interest include:

• Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch (2002)

• Do It Right (1995)

• Take the High Road (1995)

• A Brief Wrap on Ethics (2000)

http://www.usoge.gov/pages/laws_regs_fedreg_stats/oge_regs/5cfr2635.html