A final rule published in the November 19 Federal Register says senior DoD officials must obtain a post-employment ethics opinion before accepting compensation from a DoD contractor within two years after leaving DoD service.
According to the rule, DoD has amended the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation to implement a provision in the fiscal 2008 defense-spending bill requiring a DoD official, who has participated personally and substantially in a DoD acquisition exceeding $10 million or who has held a key acquisition position, to request a written opinion from a DoD ethics counselor before accepting compensation from a DoD contractor within two years after leaving DoD service.
The provision also prohibits a DoD contractor from providing compensation to such a DoD official without first determining that the official has received or appropriately requested a post-employment ethics opinion.
