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Ethics & Business Conduct

The standard is what we do when the contract is not watching.

Defense work runs on trust that is expensive to earn and cheap to lose. These are the standards we hold ourselves to, written plainly enough that an employee, a supplier, or a customer can hold us to them.

What we commit to

Six commitments, stated as behavior.

Truthful representation

We describe our capabilities as they are. Design targets are labeled design targets, work in development is labeled in development, and nothing on our website, in a proposal, or in a briefing outruns the evidence behind it. If we would not want a customer to read the substantiation, we do not make the claim.

Integrity in government contracting

We compete and perform in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation and its supplements. That means accurate cost and pricing data, no improper access to competitor or source-selection information, no offering or accepting anything intended to influence an official act, and full compliance with the gift and gratuity rules that apply to government personnel.

Export control and information security

We are ITAR registered and operate a technology control plan. Controlled technical data is handled only by authorized persons through authorized channels. Classified and customer-proprietary information is protected according to its markings, and we do not discuss what we are not cleared to discuss, publicly or privately.

Honest dealing with suppliers and partners

We pay on terms, we say what we need in writing, and we do not use scale or timing as leverage to extract concessions after an agreement. We expect the same in return, and we expect our suppliers to hold their own supply chains to these standards, including counterfeit-part prevention and material authenticity.

How we treat people

Employment decisions are made on qualifications, merit, and business need. Harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are grounds for termination, without regard to a person's performance or seniority. Safety on the shop floor is not traded against schedule.

Conflicts of interest

Outside interests that could compromise judgment on company business are disclosed and managed, not hidden. This includes financial interests in suppliers or competitors, outside employment, and personal relationships in a reporting line.

Raising a concern

If something is wrong, we want to hear it early.

Anyone, inside the company or outside it, can report a suspected violation of law, regulation, contract requirement, or these standards. Employees, suppliers, partners, and members of the public are all covered by the same commitment.

Reporting channel

info@constanellis.com, subject line “Ethics”

Reports reach company leadership directly. You may report anonymously; if you do, include enough detail for us to investigate, since we will not be able to come back with questions. We acknowledge every report we can attribute, and we tell you what we did about it wherever the investigation permits.

A third-party confidential reporting service, with 24/7 phone and web intake operated outside the company, is being procured. This page will name it the day it is live.

Non-retaliation

Retaliation against anyone who raises a concern in good faith is itself a terminable violation. This applies whether the concern turns out to be founded or not. Raising it is the behavior we want; being right is not the condition of protection.

Government reporting rights

Nothing here limits anyone's right to report suspected fraud, waste, or abuse directly to a government agency, an inspector general, or a hotline, and to do so without notifying us first. Federal whistleblower protections apply and we do not ask anyone to waive them. For matters involving Department of Defense contracts, the DoD Office of Inspector General hotline takes reports at dodig.mil/hotline or 800-424-9098.

Security vulnerabilities

For technical security issues in our systems or this website, use the disclosure channel published at /.well-known/security.txt. Researchers acting in good faith will not face legal action from us.

Extending the standard

What we ask of the people we work with.

Suppliers and subcontractors performing on our purchase orders are expected to meet these standards on the work they do for us, and to flow the relevant requirements to their own suppliers. Specific obligations, including export-control handling, counterfeit-part prevention, and quality documentation, are stated in our purchase order terms.

We would rather lose a bid than win one on a claim we cannot defend. If you are evaluating us and something we have said does not hold up, tell us and we will correct it publicly.