The prohibition on the use of appropriated funds, in § 9.1(a), does not apply in the case of a payment of reasonable compensation made to an officer or employee of a person requesting or receiving a Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement if the payment is for agency and legislative liaison activities not directly related to a covered Federal action.

For purposes of paragraph (a) of this section, providing any information specifically requested by an agency or Congress is allowable at any time.

For purposes of paragraph (a) of this section, the following agency and legislative liaison activities are allowable at any time only where they are not related to a specific solicitation for any covered Federal action:

Discussing with an agency (including individual demonstrations) the qualities and characteristics of the person's products or services, conditions or terms of sale, and service capabilities; and

Technical discussions and other activities regarding the application or adaptation of the person's products or services for an agency's use.

For purposes of paragraph (a) of this section, the following agencies and legislative liaison activities are allowable only where they are prior to formal solicitation of any covered Federal action:

Providing any information not specifically requested but necessary for an agency to make an informed decision about initiation of a covered Federal action;

Technical discussions regarding the preparation of an unsolicited proposal prior to its official submission; and

Capability presentations by persons seeking awards from an agency pursuant to the provisions of the Small Business Act, as amended.

Only those activities expressly authorized by this section are allowable under this section.