If the Procurement Officer finds a conflict of interest under Section 50-13 of the Code with the vendor selected for award or contract negotiations, the CPO may exempt named individuals from the prohibitions of Section 50-13 of the Code when, in its judgment, the public interest in having the individual in the service of the State outweighs the public policy evidenced in that Section [30 ILCS 500/50-20] .
Ill. Admin. Code tit. 44, § 2600.1010