Bill > HR6658

This bill, known as the Ban on Self-Interested Contracting Act or BASIC Act, aims to prevent certain individuals working for the government from benefiting financially from their positions. Specifically, it prohibits "special Government employees" – individuals who are employed part-time or intermittently by the government but are not full-time employees – from receiving or seeking "covered Federal awards." A "covered Federal award" is defined as a contract, grant, or similar agreement worth over $1 million annually. This prohibition applies even if the award is indirectly received by family members or organizations with which the employee has ties, if the employee's involvement could influence the award. However, exceptions exist for special Government employees who only serve on advisory committees, have duties comparable to lower-level government positions (GS-10 or below), or hold positions designated exclusively for students. The bill also mandates revisions to federal acquisition regulations to enforce this prohibition, requires the Office of Government Ethics to issue guidance, and will make certain financial disclosure reports of special Government employees publicly available, with exceptions for those in the exempted categories. Furthermore, it directs the creation of a public online database containing the names of special Government employees (excluding those on advisory committees or in lower-level roles), the duration of their service, and the reason for their designation as special Government employees.

Government Affairs

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6658/all-info