Specifying Equipment of Company Owened By Engineer

CE 480

 

Facts:

 

Engineer A is asked by a firm to prepare specifications for an air compression system. Engineer A made the firm aware that she is the President (and major shareholder) of a company that manufactures and sells air compression systems and that she has no problem with preparing a set of generic specifications. Engineer A also provides the firm with four other manufacturers that prepare air compression systems for bidding purposes, and Engineer A did not include her company as one of the four specified manufacturers.

 

The firm now wants to meet with Engineer A and a salesman from her company. Engineer A indicated to the firm that it might be a conflict-of-interest.

 

Question:

 

Would it be a conflict of interest for Engineer A to prepare a set of specifications for an air compression system and then have her company manufacture the air compression system under the facts?