DoD Contracting Officer Representative (COR) Handbook – 22 March 12
Chapter 3: Ethics and Integrity, Page 17
Working with Contractor Employees Contractors are an important component of the total DoD force, but they are not Government employees. COI rules do not apply to contractor employees, even when they are performing the same or similar work as, or working side-by-side with, Government employees. In contrast, Government employees — public servants — are accountable for the public trust. The COR’s duties are to the Government. Although professional relationships with contractor employees are not prohibited, favoritism and preferential treatment are. It is the COR’s duty to always avoid conflicts of interest and even the appearance of conflicts of interest. Personal services contracts (contracts under which contractor employees appear to be working as Government employees) are prohibited unless specifically authorized by statute.9 Contractor personnel cannot perform inherently governmental functions. In monitoring contractor performance, the COR should avoid interfering with contractor employee relations. Further, the COR must not tell contractors to do any of the following:
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