(a) Confidentiality of information that is exchanged under this program will be protected to the maximum extent authorized by law, regulation, and policy.
(b) The Government and DIB participants will conduct their respective activities under this program in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, including restrictions on the interception, monitoring, access, use, and disclosure of electronic communications or data. The Government and the DIB participant each bear responsibility for their own actions under this program.
(c) Prior to sharing any information with the Government under this program pursuant to the FA, the DIB participant shall perform a legal review of its policies and practices that support its activities under this program, and shall make a determination that such policies, practices, and activities comply with applicable legal requirements.
(d) This voluntary DIB CS/IA program is intended to safeguard covered defense information. None of the restrictions on the Government's use or sharing of information under the DIB CS/IA program shall limit the Government's ability to conduct law enforcement, counterintelligence activities, or other activities in the interest of national security; and participation does not supersede other regulatory or statutory requirements.
(e) Participation in the DIB CS/IA program is voluntary and does not obligate the DIB participant to utilize the GFI in, or otherwise to implement any changes to, its information systems. Any action taken by the DIB participant based on the GFI or other participation in this program is taken on the DIB participant's own volition and at its own risk and expense.
(f) A DIB participant's voluntary participation in this program is not intended to create any unfair competitive advantage or disadvantage in DoD source selections or competitions, or to provide any other form of unfair preferential treatment, and shall not in any way be represented or interpreted as a Government endorsement or approval of the DIB participant, its information systems, or its products or services.
(g) The DIB participant and the Government may each unilaterally limit or discontinue participation in this program at any time. Termination shall not relieve the DIB participant or the Government from obligations to continue to protect against the unauthorized use or disclosure of GFI, attribution information, contractor proprietary information, third-party proprietary information, or any other information exchanged under this program, as required by law, regulation, contract, or the FA.
(h) Upon termination of the FA, and/or change of Facility Security Clearance status below Secret, GFI must be returned to the Government or destroyed pursuant to direction of, and at the discretion of, the Government.
(i) Participation in this program does not abrogate the Government's or the DIB participants' rights or obligations regarding the handling, safeguarding, sharing, or reporting of information, or regarding any physical, personnel, or other security requirements, as required by law, regulation, policy, or a valid legal contractual obligation.