PHOENIX, AZ "“ September 5, 2007 - The Open Compliance and Ethics Group (OCEG) today released the public exposure draft of its Government Contracts Domain, an integrated database of guidance providing U.S. federal government contractors and subcontractors with a clear path to compliance. OCEG will accept public comments on the draft through October 15, 2007.

"This searchable collection of hundreds of practices, along with linked tools and resources, is the only independent, publicly vetted guidance that contractors can utilize to develop or improve a compliance program," says OCEG CEO Scott Mitchell. "We encourage contractors, large and small; to provide comment and help us ensure that the Government Contracts Domain provides clear, useful guidance."

OCEG worked with legal editor McKenna Long & Aldridge and business editor Ernst & Young as the principle authors of the guidance. Members of both firms donated their time to develop the Domain content. They were supported by an Advisory Board of experts who offered comments in the initial scoping of the Domain structure and reviewed drafts of the guidance.

"Billions of federal tax dollars are appropriated each year and used to fund government contracts," says Ray Pushkar of McKenna Long & Aldridge, legal editor of the domain. "Whether companies enter into or continue to receive contracts depends on the compliance with numerous statutes, regulations, and policies of the federal government. The OCEG guidance offers a clear, concise roadmap to the maze of contracting requirements."

"Federal procurement regulations are complex," says Brian Simmons, National Leader of Ernst & Young's Government Contract Services practice. "Any organization that receives funds from the Federal Government should be intimately familiar with the nuances of Government procurement. It is essential that companies that do business with the Government have a firm understanding of procurement regulations and their interpretation. OCEG Government Contracts domain was developed to provide companies with a broad understanding of the compliance requirements of doing business with the Federal Government."

"There are thousands of companies with either government prime contracts or subcontracts. For many, the federal marketplace is only a small part of their business," says Alan Chvotkin, Senior Vice President of the Professional Services Council. "Today, each contractor has to search through myriad sources to determine what regulations apply to them and what steps must be taken to meet those requirements. The OCEG Government Contracts Domain and this guidance, when finalized, will be an invaluable tool for any company, regardless of experience level, to navigate the federal contracting rules."

BACKGROUND

OCEG is a nonprofit organization that provides:

OCEG - Open Compliance & Ethics Group

OCEG - Open Compliance & Ethics Group

OCEG is the only nonprofit offering comprehensive guidance, standards, benchmarks and tools for integrating governance, risk and compliance (GRC) processes. Our unique platform and organizational structure helps you take advantage of contributions from thousands of experts and companies - many of them just like yours. Our guidance, benchmarking, custom tools and communities of practice help you perform - not just comply. OCEG offers value you can exploit today, tomorrow and as your company grows.

More from OCEG - Open Compliance & Ethics Group