BASIC Act

This bill, titled the "Ban on Self-Interested Contracting Act" (BASIC Act), aims to prevent conflicts of interest by prohibiting certain special Government employees from receiving significant federal awards from their employing agencies. Specifically, it amends title 18 of the U.S. Code to make it unlawful for a special Government employee to knowingly accept, directly or indirectly, any "covered Federal award" exceeding $1,000,000 annually from their agency. Indirect receipt includes awards given to close family members or to organizations where the employee holds a significant role and would benefit from the award. However, this prohibition does not apply to special Government employees who serve only on advisory committees, those with duties comparable to a GS-10 level or lower, or individuals in positions designated exclusively for students. The bill further requires the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to be revised within 60 days to reflect this new prohibition. Additionally, the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) is tasked with issuing regulatory guidance to implement these provisions. Beyond the direct prohibition, the legislation significantly enhances transparency regarding special Government employees. It mandates that Executive agencies make publicly available the financial disclosure reports filed by most special Government employees. Furthermore, it directs the Office of Personnel Management, in coordination with the OGE, to establish and maintain a public, searchable online database . This database will contain the names of covered special Government employees, a rolling tally of their service days, and the rationale for their designation as special Government employees rather than regular employees.