What are "prohibited practices" in negotiations?

• A. Extending the negotiation period beyond the schedule.
• B. Public relations campaigns during negotiations.
• C. Using price analyses not from government sources.
• D. Improper influence, kickbacks, and coercive actions that can corrupt the competition and selection process.

Answer: (D)

In negotiations, prohibited practices are actions that corrupt the integrity of the competition and the selection process. Improper influence, kickbacks, and coercive actions directly attack fairness by steering outcomes through favors, pressure, or illicit payments, which is exactly what makes them prohibited under procurement ethics and law. They threaten the honesty of the competition and undermine trust in the process, which is why this option is the best choice.

The other scenarios describe activities that aren’t, by themselves, defined as prohibited practices: extending the negotiation period is a scheduling decision; public relations campaigns can be legitimate communications unless used to manipulate or coerce, and price analyses from non-government sources are a normal part of evaluating proposals when they are reliable and relevant.