Conflict of Interest Policy
RSIA operates with public-interest safeguards designed to prevent pay-to-play dynamics and protect the integrity of standards, evaluation, and publications.
Purpose
Protect the integrity of RSIA standards, evaluation, and publications.
This Conflict of Interest (COI) policy establishes disclosure and recusal requirements designed to prevent pay-to-play dynamics, protect public-interest credibility, and ensure RSIA publications remain audit-ready and defensible.
Scope
Applies to leadership, advisors, contractors, reviewers, and any contributor influencing RSIA standards, methods, or pilot reporting.
- Board/leadership roles (formal or de facto)
- Advisory council members and reviewers
- Pilot partners and any individual with editorial influence on RSIA publications
Disclosures
Material interests must be disclosed before participation in decision-making or publication review.
- Financial interests: ownership, employment, contractor relationships, referral fees, revenue-sharing
- Close relationships that could bias judgment (family/partner/close business relationships)
- Prior disputes, litigation, or public controversies directly tied to the work under review
Recusal & separation
When a COI exists, the individual is removed from the relevant decision path.
- Recusal: Individuals with a COI do not vote, approve, or editorially control relevant standards or reporting.
- Separation of standards and commerce: RSIA does not sell rankings, lead placement, or endorsement outcomes.
- No pay-to-play: Funding or partnership does not buy favorable findings or special treatment in publications.
Reporting concerns
Concerns about undisclosed conflicts, undue influence, or compromised reporting can be submitted for review.