5 C.F.R. § 2635.601 states:
[The seeking employment] subpart contains a
disqualification requirement that applies to employees when seeking employment
with persons whose financial interests would be directly and predictably
affected by particular matters in which the employees participate personally
and substantially. Specifically, it addresses the requirement of 18 U.S.C.
208(a) that an employee disqualify himself from participation in any particular
matter that will have a direct and predictable effect on the financial
interests of a person “with whom he is negotiating or has any arrangement
concerning prospective employment.”… Beyond this statutory
requirement, [the seeking employment subpart] also addresses the
issues of lack of impartiality that require disqualification from particular
matters affecting the financial interests of a prospective employer when an
employee's actions in seeking employment fall short of actual employment
negotiations.