Dictionary of Procurement Terms

Principles, values, and standards that instruct professionals to conduct business with integrity.

1. A principle of right or good conduct or a body of such principles. 2. A system of moral principles or values. 3. A code of conduct. Ethics prohibit a breach of the public trust by a public employee by any attempt to realize personal gain through conduct inconsistent with the proper discharge of that employee’s duties. Strong ethical principles are required for public procurement personnel, and many professional bodies adhere to published codes of ethics. See also: Integrity, Norm.