SANDAG requests that consultants, contractors, vendors and agents thereof currently doing business with or planning to seek contract awards from SANDAG are strongly discouraged from giving gifts to SANDAG officers, employees, agents or Board members who have taken or may in the future take part in contracting decisions for SANDAG. SANDAG’s officers, employees, agents, and Board members shall not solicit or accept gifts, gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from contractors, potential contractors, or parties to subagreements that could bias their decision-making. This prohibition applies to any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, or loan, and includes such items as liquor, lodging, travel, food, and tickets to public functions such as sports events, theater, etc. If a person has any reason to believe a financial or organizational conflict of interest exists with regard to a particular procurement, he/she should notify the SANDAG Office of General Counsel immediately.

Officials, employees and agents of SANDAG involved in the SANDAG contracting process are “designated officials and employees” in SANDAG’s Conflict of Interest Code and must report gifts from third parties on a Statement of Economic Interests Form 700 as required by the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). SANDAG Board Policy Nos. 004 and 011, the Conflict of Interest Code, and Guidance Regarding Gifts are all documents that discuss the obligations of designated officials and employees with regard to gifts and travel.

Qualifying gifts and donations to SANDAG versus an individual are reported on FPPC Forms 801 and 802, which must be filed with the state's filing agent for San Diego County and posted on the SANDAG Web site. Additional information regarding FPPC reporting requirements can be found on the FPPC's Web site, and in Title 2 of California Code of Regulations section 18944 et seq.