Overview
This section establishes the mandatory requirement for contracting officers to report any suspected violations of the federal laws governing the use of appropriated funds to influence federal contracting (lobbying).
Key Rules
- Mandatory Reporting: The contracting officer (CO) has an affirmative obligation to report suspected violations; the language "shall report" indicates this is not discretionary.
- Governing Statute: The violations pertain specifically to 31 U.S.C. 1352, which prohibits the use of appropriated funds to influence certain federal contracting and financial transactions.
- Agency-Specific Protocol: Reports must be handled in accordance with the specific procedures established by the CO's individual agency rather than a singular FAR-wide reporting channel.
Practical Implications
- Agency Compliance: Contracting Officers must be familiar with their specific agency’s internal reporting hierarchy—often involving the Office of Inspector General (OIG) or legal counsel—to ensure the proper handling of suspected lobbying violations.
- Enforcement Trigger: This section serves as the initial procedural step in the federal government’s enforcement mechanism against illegal lobbying activities by contractors.