Volunteer Program / Code of Ethics

Volunteer Representation Program

Purpose:
The CARI program needs to assist member organizations in maintaining a competitive edge in this period of heightened levels of competition. Due to CDSA budget limitations, the CARI Committee has recommended creation of a network of volunteer regional consultants, to work in conjunction with CDSA staff. They will concentrate on both competitive bid opportunities and continued development of ongoing set aside contract opportunities.

Function:

Assist CARI members in obtaining contract work.
Provide information about the benefits of the CARI program and the quality of CARI program participants to state and local decision makers
Monitor CARI contracts to ensure high customer satisfaction. This may include:

Responding to state or local agencies concerns
Acting as a mediator with CARI participants
Development of customer service plans
Distribution of public relations materials
Face-time meetings with or without CDSA staff

Continue to look for and secure set-aside contracts and assist participating CARI members with expanding competitive contracting opportunities.

Education/Training:

Develop education and training to help CARI members acquire and maintain their work contracts. Develop pricing strategies to help members remain competitive in the bid process as well as the performance of contracts.
Work with CDS Institute to create contract/subject-specific seminars that will aid in the retention of contracts as well as the acquisition of new contracts while increasing quality.

Expanded Marketing:

Continue educating, marketing to, and networking with contract/procurement officers by presenting CARI materials and efficiency reports. Increase face-to-face meetings, as well as acquire speaking engagements at appropriate educational venues.

Staff Integration:

In order to establish continuity, a staff person from CDSA will attend as many of the face-to-face meetings as possible because volunteer representatives may change during this interim program.

Confidentiality Understanding

Volunteers for this program should understand that there may be a situation where a contract opportunity develops in which the volunteer may be representing a competing CARI member organization. If this situation occurs, the volunteer must excuse him/herself from further meetings. The CDSA staff and/or a volunteer from another region would conduct future meetings.

CARI Code of Ethics

What is the Code of Ethics?
CARI believes that participant confidence in the program is essential. The Code of Ethics sets standards ensuring that all of our transactions and business decisions are fair, honest, and transparent to all CDSA/CARI employees, member agencies, participants, and volunteers.
What does the code do?
When its provisions are followed, the code ensures that the personal and financial interests of CARI participants do not present a real or apparent conflict of interest in our responsibilities to serve the program.
Who is subject to the code?
All CDSA/CARI employees, member agencies, participants, and volunteers are subject to the code.
CARI Property
No CARI property will ever be used to give any employee, member agency, participant, or volunteer any advantage that might represent a personal or member agency benefit over another member agency in the bidding process.
Clear and Fair Contracts
CDSA/CARI employees, member agencies, participants, and volunteers must ensure that they take account of the interests of both the buyer and the vendor, with clear and fair contractual terms.
Conflicts of Interest
CDSA/CARI employees, member agencies, participants, and volunteers will avoid any conflict of interests; as such conflict is likely to adversely affect their business actions or decisions. These situations include having a personal interest, whether direct or indirect, in an organization doing business with CARI or competing with CARI.
Gifts and Personal Benefits
CDSA/CARI employees, member agencies, participants, and volunteers are not authorized to derive personal profit or benefit from the procurement of goods or services on behalf of CARI.
Free Competition
All procurement will be conducted in accordance with the rules of free competition.
Purchasing from Member Agencies and Participants
All CARI member agencies and participants that could supply the desired goods or services will be invited to bid. Assuming equivalent price, quality and conditions, the purchase will be made from a CARI member agency or participant first.
Bribery and Corruption
CDSA/CARI employees, member agencies, participants, and volunteers are expected to reject all forms of bribery and corruption. Particular attention will be paid to this during the procurement process.
Equal Treatment of Member Agencies and Participants
Tender package documents, whether in printed or electronic form will be similar for all potential vendors. All organizations tendering must always receive the same information.
Contracts
All contractual commitments will be covered by a written document accurately reflecting the outcome of the negotiation and agreements reached, and in line with the contractual terms approved by CARI.
Respect for Commitments
All CDSA/CARI employees, member agencies, participants, and volunteers must respect contractual commitments signed with each other and with buyers.
Confidentiality
Going beyond actual legal and contractual commitments, ethical principles dictate that no potentially confidential or sensitive information concerning CDSA/CARI employees, member agencies, participants, and volunteers will be disclosed without prior authorization.
Implementation
The management of each entity is responsible for the implementation and proper observance of this code of ethics by all contract and procurement personnel, and employees in other departments who are directly or indirectly involved in the procurement process.

All CDSA/CARI employees, member agencies, participants, and volunteers must abide by all Federal, State, and local laws and regulations.