Responsible business conduct

Responsible business conduct, or RBC, includes promoting workers’ rights and safe working conditions, preventing human trafficking, and addressing other human rights-related risks. As the largest purchaser in the world, the U.S. Government has the potential to raise RBC standards globally by incorporating human rights into federal procurement processes. This module provides a framework for how best practices and resources for responsible business conduct can be incorporated within procurements. It is especially important for contracts with a higher risk for adverse impacts on human rights — risk factors discussed below: 

See Federal Register Notice “Federal Acquisition Regulation; Ending Trafficking in Persons”. Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M-20-01 of 21 October 2019, Anti-Trafficking Risk Management Best Practices & Mitigation Considerations provides additional guidance.

On procurements that entail sourcing products and services from a foreign country, we recommend reviewing the below steps for practices to promote responsible business conduct.