What steps should you take if a potential conflict of interest arises in SWLCAT activities?

• A. Proceed with the decision and report later.
• B. Disclose gifts above policy thresholds, recuse from decisions where a conflict exists, and follow the COI policy.
• C. Disclose only if asked by a supervisor.
• D. Ignore minor conflicts and proceed.

Answer: (B)

Managing conflicts of interest revolves around maintaining objectivity and transparency in SWLCAT activities. If a potential conflict arises, you should disclose any gifts or relationships that could influence your judgment, especially those that exceed policy thresholds. After disclosure, you should recuse yourself from any decisions where the conflict could affect impartiality. Finally, you follow the COI policy, which provides the exact steps, thresholds, and who to notify, ensuring the situation is handled consistently and documented. This approach protects the integrity of the process and helps others trust that decisions aren’t biased by personal interests. For example, if you receive a gift from a vendor involved in a decision, you would disclose it because it could be seen as influencing you; you would then refrain from participating in that decision, and you would report according to the COI policy. Other options miss the mark because proceeding without disclosure could bias the outcome, disclosing only when asked is not proactive, and ignoring minor conflicts undermines policy and trust.