On Sept. 9, President Biden issued an Executive Order on Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors; once fully implemented, the order requires qualifying federal contractors and subcontractors to adhere to guidance that will be issued by the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force, presumably to ensure their employees are vaccinated against COVID-19. This guidance is expected by Sept. 24 after approval from the Office of Management and Budget.
The Federal Acquisition Council is directed to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulations by Oct. 8 to implement the Executive Order, and executive agencies then will take steps to ensure new contracts, solicitations and extensions reflect the new vaccine requirement.
The order outlines which contractors and subcontractors will be subject to the new requirement. It also contains certain exemptions and states that covered contractors and subcontractors must ensure their workers “performing on” or “in connection with” one of the types of contracts covered are vaccinated. The Executive Order does not necessarily require that all employees of covered federal contractors be vaccinated.
NRCA will provide more information regarding this matter as it becomes available.
