What are the three broad categories of OCI?

The three broad categories of Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI) are indeed Unequal Access, Impaired Objectivity, and Biased Ground Rules.

Unequal Access refers to situations where a contractor has access to non-public information that may provide them with an advantage over competitors in bidding for contracts. This can lead to unfair competition and skew the procurement process.

Impaired Objectivity occurs when a contractor's ability to make unbiased decisions is compromised, typically because they are involved in evaluating their own work or that of competitors. This can create a conflict where the contractor may favor their own interests or those of a particular associate rather than making impartial decisions.

Biased Ground Rules arise when a contractor is involved in the development of statements of work or other solicitation documents in a way that the outcome may favor them. This can lead to situations where the competition is not fair and the resulting decision may not be in the best interest of the government or the contracting body.

These categories are critical to understanding how OCIs can affect contract integrity and the procurement process.