Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI) relate to the University as an institution and everyone within the institution. This differs from Financial Conflicts of Interest (COI), Institutional COI, Substantial Interest conflicts and Conflicts of Commitment (COC) which relate to one’s individual interests, commitments and obligations.
OCI review focuses on whether activities and relationships will render the University, the Principal Investigator or Project Director, and others involved in the project unable to (1) provide impartial assistance or advice, or (2) objectively perform work. OCI review also focuses on whether the institution has an unfair competitive advantage compared to other entities. When conducting an OCI review, OROI focuses on the following:
- Unequal Access to Information
- Does UArizona, the Principal Investigator or Project Director, or others involved in the project have access to information that:
- Provides an advantage in preparing a proposal, and
- Is unavailable to others competing for the government work?
- Does UArizona, the Principal Investigator or Project Director, or others involved in the project have access to information that:
- Biased Ground Rules
- Did UArizona, the Principal Investigator or Project Director, or others involved in the project participate in developing specifications that will be used by the government to evaluate proposals to be funded under the government contract?
- Impaired Objectivity
- Will UArizona, the Principal Investigator or Project Director, or others involved in the project be required, as part of the government contract, to evaluate offers for products or services provided by them or any other person at the University?
- Does UArizona, the Principal Investigator or Project Director, or others involved in the project have any of the following relationships to any company that will be involved in performing any aspect of the project?
- An ownership interest,
- A managerial, fiduciary or officer position, or
- Consultant
Examples of Organizational Conflicts of Interest are provided by the federal government here: Federal Acquisition Regulation 9.508 Examples.
Each Investigator on the project must have submitted up-to-date conflict of interest disclosure to OROI before the OCI review can be finalized. Please allow 3 business days for completion of an OCI certification.