Conflict of interest?

[LuckyTaxi]

I'm close to starting a business catering to web designing, hosting, network consultation and custom systems. I work FT for a school during the day, but at night, I handle my business venture. We will be purchasing additional systems for the school. I was thinking of having the school purchase them through my company. Is this a conflict of interest?

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: lilcam
I'm close to starting a business catering to web designing, hosting, network consultation and custom systems. I work FT for a school during the day, but at night, I handle my business venture. We will be purchasing additional systems for the school. I was thinking of having the school purchase them through my company. Is this a conflict of interest?

huge red conflict of interest flag. probably illegal

 

[LuckyTaxi]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: lilcam
I'm close to starting a business catering to web designing, hosting, network consultation and custom systems. I work FT for a school during the day, but at night, I handle my business venture. We will be purchasing additional systems for the school. I was thinking of having the school purchase them through my company. Is this a conflict of interest?

huge red conflict of interest flag. probably illegal

ok ... just wanted to make sure ... thanks

 

[bunker]

Normally a school like that either has a preferred vendor or puts the job up for bids. I think as long as you're not involved in the buying decision you may be able to enter a bid. You definitely have to ask someone in purchasing for the school first.

 

[Nanotech]

Steer clear unless you make it explicitly clear that it is your company and the equipment you offer is cheaper but of the same quality they could find elsewhere. You still may want to simply avoid this conflict of interest all together.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: bunker
Normally a school like that either has a preferred vendor or puts the job up for bids. I think as long as you're not involved in the buying decision you may be able to enter a bid. You definitely have to ask someone in purchasing for the school first.

yeah, much better to just give the purchasing director a round of golf and "hope we can do business"

wink, wink.

Ahh, the joy of kickbacks

 

[LuckyTaxi]

Originally posted by: bunker
Normally a school like that either has a preferred vendor or puts the job up for bids. I think as long as you're not involved in the buying decision you may be able to enter a bid. You definitely have to ask someone in purchasing for the school first.

We have vendors, but they're too expensive. I realize it may be illegal to do things, but I hate to say it but the school gets away with a lot of things. Actually, they could care less where we get things from because it all boils down to money. I've seen this in their dealings with other things.

 

[ggavinmoss]

If you're not in the decision making process and the process is open to bidding it might be a little less suspicious. But it doens't sound like a good idea in any case.

-geoff

 

[Yax]

Originally posted by: lilcam
I'm close to starting a business catering to web designing, hosting, network consultation and custom systems. I work FT for a school during the day, but at night, I handle my business venture. We will be purchasing additional systems for the school. I was thinking of having the school purchase them through my company. Is this a conflict of interest?

Will you be doing the purchasing or someone else?

 

[jjones]

Talk to the purchasing agent. If it's a straight up business contract and a good deal for the school, it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[LuckyTaxi]

Originally posted by: cheapbidder01

Originally posted by: lilcam
I'm close to starting a business catering to web designing, hosting, network consultation and custom systems. I work FT for a school during the day, but at night, I handle my business venture. We will be purchasing additional systems for the school. I was thinking of having the school purchase them through my company. Is this a conflict of interest?

Will you be doing the purchasing or someone else?

My co-worker (who's cool with it) and I have FINAL decision on who we purchase our IT equipment from. They trust that we take into consideration the price and quality of an equipment before we make the purchase.

I'll talk to the CFO, I doubt she really cares. I dont see why it would be a problem if my company can offer an identical system for less money. We could buy an Acer or HP that uses the same brand HD, memory, MB, CPU, video card, etc... But yes it's a sticky issue.