A conflict of interest can be defined as a situation in which an employee's private interest (usually financial or economic in nature) conflicts or raises a reasonable question of conflict with the employee's public duties and responsibilities.

All parties should avoid situations where financial, social, or political relationships impair one's ability to make independent, fair, and impartial judgments.

TxDOT employees, as well as performing entities, have an obligation to disclose situations that may create or give the perception of creating a conflict of interest.