Just as with Trade Agreements Act or GSA Schedule pricing issues, competitors can be a primary conduit through which the government brings Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) cases.  A recent GAO protest, ASM Research (B-412187) shows that OCI issues are alive and well, even if they’ve faded a bit from the headlines, and that contractors need to take OCI issues seriously.  The GAO found in this case that the VA failed to adequately consider a potential organizational conflict of interest that would be created by the awardee’s development, hosting, and evaluation of applications under two separate task orders on the same contract.  As a result, the VA had to re-bid the second piece of work.  Audits aren’t the only avenue open to the government to ensure contract compliance.  Competitors and unhappy current for former employees are the top two ways the federal compliance community hears about potential problems.  Make sure you treat your people well, but also be aware of who else is looking beside your federal customer.  See more on this topic here