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28/3334–6FE Reference Handbook 10.4 · Ethics · NSPE Code
1. Hold Paramount Public Safety2. Licensure & Responsible Charge3. Contracts & Conflicts of Interest4. Practice Only in Areas of Competence5. Confidentiality of Client and Employer Information6. Bribes and Gifts7. Reporting Unethical Practice8. Sealing Only Work Under Responsible Charge9. Public Welfare Over Employer Interest10. Truthful Public Statements11. Environmental Stewardship12. Continuing Education / Maintain Competence13. Duty Priority When Interests Conflict14. Expert Witness Duties15. Competitive Bidding for Professional Services16. Intellectual Property and Confidentiality17. Standard of Care and Professional Liability18. Sustainability and Stewardship

Handbook formula

Bribes and Gifts

Engineers shall not offer or accept bribes, kickbacks, or gifts that could influence professional judgment. Token courtesy items of nominal value are generally acceptable. Public employees are often under stricter statutory gift bans. The test is whether independent judgment could be compromised.

Anything of value to influence a decision
Nominal courtesy that does not sway judgment
Report and recuse when in doubt

Step-by-step solved example

During bid evaluation a vendor offers the reviewing PE a week at a resort. What should the PE do?

  1. 1. Identify the risk

    A luxury trip during evaluation is intended to influence selection.

  2. 2. Action

    Refuse the trip, document the offer, and keep the evaluation independent. Report per policy if required.

Answer: Refuse; do not let the gift influence selection.

10 practice questions

0/10 correct

1.A cash payment to win a design contract is

2.Modest meals of token value are often

3.A vendor's luxury trip during bid evaluation is

4.Public employees often have

5.Kickbacks from contractors to the reviewing PE are

6.A branded pen of nominal value is

7.The ethical test for a gift is whether it

8.If a gift cannot be declined politely

9.Political contributions by a PE

10.Soliciting gifts from vendors whose products you specify is