FEMA IS-33 FEMA Initial Ethics Orientation Answers

1. A FEMA manager supports a candidate for a local partisan election. Select the reason below as to why the manager cannot send an e-mail invitation to a fundraiser for a candidate from his office computer.
A. Government employees may not fundraise from their office area, but may post campaign materials in their break room.
B. Government employees may only fundraise in the workplace if they support all candidates equally.
C. Government employees may not use Government workplaces or equipment for political activities.
D. Government employees may only use their position if the candidate is a relative.

2. Yolanda, a FEMA employee, plans to solicit contributions for a retirement gift for her boss. Which of the following is Yolanda NOT permitted to do?
A. Send an e-mail to all employees soliciting a voluntary contribution.
B. Limit contributions to $10 or less.
C. Encourage contractors to sponsor the retirement party.
D. Describe the gift but not require a dollar contribution for the gift.

3. Chris, a FEMA educational specialist is working with a local university to develop a fire safety training program for FEMA employees. The university offers Chris a part-time consulting job on developing fire safety courses. Which of the following should Chris do?
A. Turn down the job because it would create a conflict of interest.
B. Accept the job because it is related to the training program being developed.
C. Defer payment until Chris’ official duties associated with the university are finished.
D. Agree to teach the course because the salary is minimal.

4. Ruth, a FEMA supervisor, has a side business selling cookware out of her home. Can she sell any merchandise to her subordinates at FEMA?
A. No, Ruth may not sell the merchandise to her subordinates.
B. Yes, Ruth may sell the cookware to her subordinates because participation is optional.
C. No, Ruth may not sell in the office but may contact subordinates after hours.
D. Yes, Ruth may sell merchandise to subordinates if the total cost of value is under $20.

5. Rita, a FEMA manager, has a second job as a realtor. Which of the following is Rita allowed to do?
A. She may use her personal cell phone to contact clients during her lunch break.
B. She may e-mail her clients from her Government account.
C. She may call her clients on her office phone.
D. She may enter her real estate listings from her Government computer.

6. Helen is a FEMA employee. Her friend is working on a proposal for a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) contract bid solicitation related to pandemic influenza. During a social event, Helen mentions some facts to her friend that are contained in internal, nonpublic agency information about a recent pandemic influenza exercise that might help her friend’s in putting together a technical proposal for the bid. Is this a violation of ethics rules?
A. No, because the documents were not provided to Helen’s friend.
B. Yes, Helen cannot reveal internal, nonpublic information to her friend.
C. No, because the proposal is being submitted to HHS rather than FEMA.
D. Yes, because Helen should not be associated with anyone who provides contractual services to the Federal agencies.

7. A FEMA office needs a conference planner, and Bert’s sister has a conference planning business. Which of the following actions may Bert take?
A. Tell his sister where a contract solicitation or announcement is publicly posted.
B. Provide his sister with project details so she can make the best presentation.
C. Fill out and submit an application or offer to be submitted by his sister to the agency.
D. Recommend his sister’s company to his boss.

8. Which of the following is TRUE about Government ethics rules?
A. Federal ethics regulations only apply to Presidential appointees and senior director-level positions.
B. Federal ethics rules are designed to maintain public confidence in the integrity of Government.
C. There are no disciplinary penalties for violating Government ethics rules.
D. A Government employee should rely on his or her own conscience to decide if he or she is acting ethically.

9. You are a FEMA employee assigned as a contracting officer to work with Five Star Generators. Five Star Generators’ current contract, worth over $10 million, is being re-competed. A Five Star Generators manager asks you to write an endorsement for the company to use on its bid. The manager also offers you a job. Which of the following is the best course of action for you to follow?
A. Refuse to take the job or give an endorsement, and notify your supervising contracting officer or the head of the contracting activity.
B. Provide the endorsement for the company, but turn down the job.
C. Refuse to take the job or give an endorsement, but offer Five Star Generators inside information regarding the bid.
D. Provide the endorsement for the company and agree to take their offer of employment.

10. George, a FEMA employee, assesses Information Technology (IT) needs for FEMA. An IT vendor who does business with FEMA knows that George is a football fan and offers him two tickets to a game. Is this statement TRUE or FALSE: George may accept the free tickets because this is a one-time event, not a frequent occurrence.
A. True
B. False.