SGEs also may be eligible for a special waiver that permits certain representational activities in connection with work under Federal grants and contracts. An agency head may authorize an SGE to present another before the Government "in performance of work under a grant by, or a contract with or for the benefit of, the United States."
The purpose of this exception is to take care of any situations involving the national interest where an intermittent employee's (e.g., an SGE) special knowledge or skills may be required by her/his employer or other private person to affect the proper performance of a Government contract or grant but where her/his service may be unavailable in the absence of a waiver.
Such a waiver may be granted only by the agency head and must be based on a written certification, published in the Federal Register, that it is required by the national interest. (Link to 18 U.S.C. 203(e) and 205(f) for more information)