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Recently,
a number of personnel have received full versions
of Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003
and Microsoft Office OneNote 2003 through the
mail from Microsoft Corporation. These gifts were
preceded in the mail by a card announcing that
the software would be arriving "in the coming
weeks." The card noted that the software
products were being sent "without obligation."
These items have been determined
to be gifts from a prohibited source, and may
not be accepted by Office of the Chief Financial
Officer employees. A prohibited source includes
any person, company, or organization that:
- Has business with the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or any
of its agencies;
- Seeks to do business with USDA
or any of its agencies;
- Conducts operations regulated
by USDA or any of its agencies;
- Has interests that may be affected
by your performance or nonperformance of official
duties; or
- Is a professional, technical,
trade association, or other organization, a
majority of whose members are prohibited sources.
If you receive such items, please
return them to Microsoft. This marketing technique,
for training, computer items/software, etc., is
common in the private sector; however, it creates
problems when used to market products to the Government.
For more information, please review the website
at 5 CFR 2635.202.
If you have questions or encounter
situations not covered by this advisory, please
contact your supervisor. Supervisors with inquiries
should contact the Agency Ethics Office at 504-426-0308
or 504-426-0307.
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