The Administration released general details of President Biden's COVID-19 Action Plan and two Executive Orders that will require all federal employees and federal contractors and subcontractors to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The Executive Order impacting federal contractors requires the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force provide further guidance and a draft contract clause by September 24th. The Federal Acquisition Regulation will be amended to include these requirements in a contract clause in federal solicitations and contracts. Direct federal contracts can expect this new contract clause to appear in all covered federal contracts, extensions, and renewals by October 15th. The E.O. essentially requires all direct federal contractor and subcontractors to be vaccinated, without the option of submitting a weekly test. The E.O. requires the Task Force to define key terms like “contractors workplace locations.” These types of definitions will be key in understanding the breadth of the vaccination requirements. However, everything that AGC has heard from the White House and Task Force is that the vaccine mandate will likely apply to all employees of federal contractors and subcontractors, with limited exceptions.
AGC of America has gathered resources to assist its members facing COVID-19 vaccine requirements; vaccine safety and their effectiveness that members can use in their educational efforts; and provided resources to assist with employer vaccine policies. Click HERE to find the AGC COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit. There are a lot of questions that have yet to be answered. AGC is reaching out to OSHA, FAR Council, Task Force, and other federal agencies, and will update AGC members as we learn more.
For more information, contact jordan.howard@agc.org or (703) 837-5368.