Final Answer:
Yes, you can accept the four box tickets to your university's football game as a gift.
Step-by-step explanation:
Accepting gifts as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) involves considering the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) guidelines. According to FAR 3.101-1, a government employee may accept gifts, including entertainment, if it is unsolicited and is not given to influence official actions. In this case, the contractor's offer of football game tickets can be viewed as an unsolicited gesture of appreciation rather than an attempt to influence the COR's decision-making process. As such, accepting the tickets aligns with ethical guidelines.
Moreover, the value of the gift is essential in determining its permissibility. According to the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) regulations, employees can generally accept gifts with an aggregate market value of $20 or less per source per occasion, up to a total of $50 in a calendar year. However, this limit does not apply to gifts motivated by a family or personal relationship. In the scenario provided, if the value of the four box tickets falls within these limits and is not tied to any attempt to influence the COR, it is permissible to accept the gift.
In conclusion, as long as the tickets are unsolicited, not intended to influence official actions, and their value complies with the established limits, accepting the four box tickets is ethically and legally acceptable under FAR and OGE regulations.