Code of Conduct | MasonByte LLC

1. Purpose

MasonByte LLC is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business. We carry the standards we learned in uniform into our work for federal, state, local, and commercial customers: integrity, accountability, and care for the people we serve.

This Code sets the ethical and professional standards expected of everyone who works for or with MasonByte. It supports our obligations under FAR 52.203-13 (Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct) and operates alongside MasonByte's information security, data handling, personnel security, and vendor management policies.

2. Who This Code Applies To

The President and all MasonByte workforce members, including employees, subcontractors, and consultants engaged through their own companies
Suppliers, vendors, and subcontractors performing work for or on behalf of MasonByte
External collaborators with access to MasonByte systems, data, or customer sites

3. Our Standards

3.1 Honesty in Government and Customer Dealings

We never make false or misleading statements in proposals, invoices, certifications, timesheets, or reports.
We represent our past performance, certifications, and capabilities accurately, including whether MasonByte performed work as a prime contractor or a subcontractor.
We record time and costs accurately, to the correct contract and task.

3.2 Conflicts of Interest, Gifts, and Gratuities

We avoid personal, financial, or family interests that could improperly influence business decisions, and we disclose any potential conflict to the President.
We do not offer or accept kickbacks, bribes, or improper gifts, consistent with the Anti-Kickback Act and federal gratuity rules. We do not offer anything of value to government employees except as the law expressly allows.

3.3 Procurement Integrity and Fair Competition

We do not seek or use competitor bid or proposal information, or government source selection information, that we are not authorized to have.
We compete fairly and do not collude on pricing or bids.

3.4 Protecting Information

We protect customer data, Protected Health Information, personally identifiable information, Federal Contract Information, and Controlled Unclassified Information according to our data handling policies and contract terms.
We follow MasonByte's acceptable-use, access, and security requirements, and we report suspected security incidents immediately.

3.5 Respectful and Safe Workplace

We provide equal opportunity and do not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation.
We follow applicable safety requirements on every jobsite, including OSHA and EPA Lead-Safe practices, and we stop work when conditions are unsafe.

3.6 Human Trafficking and Labor Practices

We comply with FAR 52.222-50 (Combating Trafficking in Persons). We do not use forced labor, charge recruitment fees to workers, or withhold workers' identity documents.
We pay workers in accordance with applicable wage laws, including prevailing wage requirements where they apply.

3.7 Accurate Records

We keep complete and accurate business, financial, and compliance records, and we retain them as required by law, contract, and MasonByte policy.

4. Supplier and Subcontractor Expectations

MasonByte expects its suppliers and subcontractors to meet the standards in this Code. This Code is provided with every subcontract and supplier agreement, and suppliers acknowledge it in writing during onboarding. Suppliers are expected to:

Flow equivalent ethics, security, and anti-trafficking requirements to their own lower-tier suppliers
Notify MasonByte promptly of any ethics or compliance concern connected to MasonByte work

5. Speaking Up

Anyone who believes this Code, the law, or a contract requirement has been violated should report it:

MasonByte ethics & compliance: support@masonbyte.com
MasonByte external counsel: contact provided at onboarding, for concerns involving the President
Government channels: the Office of Inspector General for the agency involved, for example the VA OIG Hotline

No retaliation. MasonByte does not retaliate against anyone who raises a concern in good faith. Workforce members are protected under 41 U.S.C. § 4712 when they disclose information about fraud, waste, abuse, or violations of law on federal contracts.

Mandatory disclosure. When MasonByte has credible evidence of a federal criminal law violation involving fraud, conflict of interest, bribery, or gratuities, or of a civil False Claims Act violation, in connection with a federal contract or subcontract, MasonByte will disclose it in writing to the agency Office of Inspector General, with a copy to the contracting officer, as FAR 52.203-13 requires.

6. Availability and Acknowledgment

This Code is kept visible and available at all times. It is published on this page, provided to every workforce member at onboarding and acknowledged in writing, reconfirmed at each annual security refresher, and attached to subcontract and supplier agreements.

7. Violations

Violations by workforce members are addressed under MasonByte's enforcement and sanctions policy, up to and including termination of engagement. Supplier and subcontractor violations are addressed under the governing contract, up to and including termination for cause.