[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 48, Volume 5] [Revised as of October 1, 2007] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 48CFR809.504] [Page 171] TITLE 48--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM CHAPTER 8--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Sec. 809.504 Contracting officer's responsibilities. (a) Contracting officers will be responsible for determining the existence of actual and/or potential organizational conflicts of interest which would result from the award of the contract. The contracting officer will be guided by information submitted by offerors and by his/her own judgment. The contracting officer may obtain the advice of legal counsel and the assistance of technical specialists in evaluating potential organizational conflicts. (b) If it is determined that organizational conflicts of interest will be created by the award of the contract, the contracting officer may find an offeror nonresponsible. (c) Notwithstanding the existence of organizational conflicts of interest, it may be determined that the award of the contract would be in the best interest of the Government. In that case, the contracting officer may set terms and conditions which will reduce the organizational conflicts of interest to the greatest extent possible, with the approval of the head of the contracting activity. (d) The contracting officer will, in addition to any certifications required by this subpart, require in all solicitations for consulting services that the offeror submit as part of an offer a statement which discloses all relevant facts relating to existing or potential organizational conflicts of interest surrounding the contract and/or the proposed use of subcontractors during the contract.