DP1

DecisionPoint
http://proethica.org/ontology/cases#DecisionPoint

DP1

Should the U.S. Agency engineers refrain from concluding binding private contracts and forming a joint venture corporation for the hydroelectric project while still employed by the public agency, or may they finalize those arrangements during active employment and resign at the moment of contract conclusion?

U.S. Agency engineers employed by a federal government agency responsible for the basic plans of a hydroelectric project negotiated with private consulting firms, formed a joint venture corporation, and concluded binding private contracts for the design and supervision of that same project — all while still drawing a government salary and holding active insider access to the project's foundational plans. Their resignations were timed to coincide with contract conclusion rather than preceding private negotiations.

Refrain from concluding any binding private contracts, joint venture agreements, or corporate formations related to the hydroelectric project while still employed; resign first and disclose the prior public role to the client and competing firms before entering private negotiations.

Conclude the joint venture agreement and private contract negotiations while still employed, then resign at the moment of contract finalization, treating the mobility right as permitting career transitions that are completed before the employment relationship formally ends.

Continue private negotiations while employed but immediately disclose their existence to the federal employer and request formal conflict-of-interest guidance or recusal from further public work on the project, treating disclosure as a curative measure that preserves both the mobility right and the loyalty obligation.

U.S. Agency Engineers