[an error occurred while processing this directive]
 
Go to previous section of document Link to chapter contents   Go to next section of document

Contracts with former Postal Service Officers, Executives, and Employees, and Employees and their Immediate Families

The Postal Service does not award contracts to (1) Postal Service employees, (2) their immediate families, or (3) business organizations substantially owned or controlled by Postal Service employees or their immediate families. A Postal Service employee is any Postal Service officer or any employee working on a full-time or part-time basis in a career or non-career position, specifically persons in temporary positions such as Postmaster replacements and rural carrier reliefs. Immediate family refers to the spouse of, minor child or children of, or other individual related by blood to an employee and residing in the employee's household.

Exceptions

The prohibition against the award of a contract to Postal Service employees or their immediate families is waived when the Contracting Officer specifically authorizes such a waiver in writing under the following circumstances:

New real estate leases of interior space of 3,000 square feet or less

Renewals and extensions of leases of interior space of 3,000 square feet or less

Renewals and extensions of leases of interior space of 3,000 square feet or more, subject to review and concurrence of the Associate Ethical Conduct Officer

Renewals of existing highway contract routes with immediate family members of a Postal Service employee, subject to review and concurrence of the Associate Ethical Conduct Officer

Cleaning service contracts with immediate family members of nonsupervisory employees

The licensing of a patented invention that is the sole property of the employee

The lease of an individual employee's vehicle in connection with his or her employment

Return to top of page

Contracts With Former Officers and Executives

It is Postal Service policy not to contract with former officers or Postal Service Executive Service (PCES) executives or entities with which such individuals have a substantial interest for one year after the date of their separation from the Postal Service (whether by retirement or otherwise) if the contract calls for substantially the same duties as they performed during their career with the Postal Service, as determined by the Vice President of Human Resources. Purchase teams must enforce this policy when purchasing professional/technical or consulting services and include Provision 1-4: Prohibition Against Contracting with Former Officers or PCES Executives, in relevant solicitations, and Clause 1-11: Prohibition Against Contracting with Former Postal Service Officers or PCES Executives, in resulting contracts.

The Vice President of Human Resources may grant exceptions to this policy when he or she determines that doing so is in the best interest of the Postal Service. All such exceptions must be documented and included in the contract file.

Contracts With Other Former Employees

The Postal Service may contract with former employees (other than former officers or PCES executives) or with suppliers proposing the use of former employees during contract performance when the former employee's expertise will further the success of the purchase and the business and competitive interests of the Postal Service. Contracts with former employees or with suppliers offering the services of former employees should not be confused with the employment of annuitants.

All requests for contracts with former employees (non-officer or executive) must be forwarded by the purchasing organization to the manager of Corporate Personnel Management (CPM), for review and approval. The manager of CPM will decide whether the former employee should be hired as a retired annuitant or should be contracted with by the purchasing organization. When appropriate, the purchasing organization may award a personal services contract to the former employee.

When a supplier proposes using a former employee, the manager of CPM will review the former employee's employment history and advise the Purchase/SCM Team as to whether the substitution of another individual is in the best interests of the Postal Service. If such substitution is the case, the contracting officer must advise the supplier to propose another individual to perform the duties called for. If, following contract award, the supplier proposes the use of a former employee, the same review and approval process is required before the former employee may begin work.

Purchase teams must consider this policy in light of the particular purchase, and the potential need for reviews and approvals, and as necessary, include Provision 1-5: Proposed Use of Former Postal Service Employees, in relevant solicitations, and

Clause 1-12: Use of Former Postal Service Employees, in resulting contracts.

Return to top of page

Clauses & Provisions

Provision 1-4: Prohibition Against Contracting With Former Postal Service Officers or PCES Executives

Provision 1-5: Proposed Use of Former Postal Service Employees

Clause 1-11: Prohibition Against Contracting With Former Officers or PCES Executives

Clause 1-12: Use of Former Postal Service Employees

Laws & Regulations

Title 39 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 447.31

Go to previous section of document Link to chapter contents   Go to next section of document