Attempt to influence award

1. Any vendor or contractor is prohibited from giving or offering to give, and any employee and official of the office of management and budget or a purchasing agency involved in any aspect of the procurement process is prohibited from soliciting, accepting, or agreeing to accept money, loans, credits, or prejudicial discounts, subscriptions, offer of employment, gifts, entertainment, favors, or services that might influence, or appear to influence, procurement decisions. 2. Items of nominal value may be offered by a vendor or contractor as a gesture of good will or for public relations purposes and may be accepted. 3. A vendor, contractor, agent, consultant, subcontractor, employee, lobbyist, or any state employee or official may not attempt to influence a procurement decision. 4. A state employee or official involved in any aspect of the procurement process shall report to the state procurement manager any person or business entity that attempts to influence an award or makes or offers to make a gift prohibited by this section. All bids or proposals submitted by the person or business entity will be rejected and the person or business entity will be barred from further bidding for a period of time determined by the state procurement manager. The state procurement manager will notify the attorney general of any violation of this section for any action as the attorney general may deem appropriate.