Glenn P. Strehle, vice president for finance and treasurer, and
Diane Shea, director of purchasing, have issued the following reminder
to department heads, lab directors/account supervisors, administrative
officers, requisitioners, purchasing personnel and others who are
involved in procurement:
Institute and federal policies prohibit the acceptance of gifts or
gratuities from vendors, subcontractors and contractors (suppliers). The
Institute policy is found in Policies and Procedures, section 5.60. The
text follows:
"It is the Institute's objective to award business to suppliers on
the basis of considerations such as quality, service, competitive
pricing and technical abilities. Acceptance of personal gifts or
gratuities from suppliers that could be construed as a means of inducing
business with the Institute is totally inconsistent with this objective.
"Institute policy prohibits employees from accepting personal
gifts or gratuities of any kind from suppliers. This includes the use of
property or facilities, gift certificates, entertainment, or other
favors of value extended to employees or their families.
"Federal regulations, which govern procurement under contracts and
grants, impose a like prohibition mandated by Public Law 99-634, known
as the Anti-Kickback Enforcement Act of 1986. Kickback is defined as any
money, fee, commission, credit, gift, gratuity, thing of value, or
compensation of any kind that is provided by a supplier, directly or
indirectly, to any employee for the purpose of improperly obtaining or
rewarding favorable treatment in connection with procurement under a
federal contract or grant."
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on December 4, 1996.
