On June 2, 2023, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council published an interim rule which requires contracting officers to insert a new clause – FAR 52.204-27 – in solicitations after June 2, 2023 or when exercising an option or modifying an existing task or delivery order after that date.

The

Yesterday (March 27, 2017), President Trump signed into law a Congressional Joint Resolution of Disapproval (the “Resolution”), revoking the rules implementing the controversial Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order, better known as the Blacklisting Rule.  The same day, President Trump issued a new Executive Order – The “Presidential Executive Order on the Revocation of Federal Contracting Executive Orders” – officially revoking the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order.

Today (January 19, 2017), the Employee Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements Federal Acquisition Regulation (the “Rule”) goes into effect.  The Rule prohibits the government from contracting with companies that require employees or subcontractors to sign “internal confidentiality agreements or statements prohibiting or otherwise restricting such employees or subcontractors from lawfully reporting such waste, fraud, or abuse to a designated investigative or law enforcement representative of a Federal department or agency authorized to receive such information.”  The commentary to the Rule explains that “designated” representatives are employees of the applicable agency’s Office of Inspector General.  The Rule applies to all solicitations and contracts (including contracts for Commercial Off-the-Shelf items (“COTS”)) using fiscal year 2015 funds or funds from any subsequent fiscal year.

On October 24, 2016, just one day prior to effective date of the Regulations and Guidance implementing the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order (collectively the “Rule”), Judge Marcia Crone of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas enjoined the implementation of almost every provision of the Rule.  Specifically, Judge Crone enjoined the implementation of the Rule’s new labor law violation reporting requirements and the Rule’s arbitration agreement restrictions.  Judge Crone declined to enjoin the paycheck transparency provisions, which go into effect on January 1, 2017.

On October 7, 2016, the first lawsuit challenging the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order (the “Order”) and its Final Rule and Guidance (collectively the “Rule”) was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.  The lawsuit, seeks a preliminary injunction preventing implementation of the Rule, declaratory judgment declaring the Rule invalid, and an order vacating the Rule.  A hearing on the plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction will be heard by District Judge Marcia Crone on October 21, 2016.

As reported today in Politico, the rule effectuating Executive Order 13706 (the “Order”), which requires certain federal contractors and subcontractors to provide their workers up to seven days of paid sick leave annually, has completed the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) review process.  Our previous blog posts on

Loyal readers of this blog are well aware of the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order and corresponding regulations which go into effect next month.  Those looking to learn more about the topic can access our recent webinar and blog post on the “Blacklisting” regulations and what contractors should

Today, the Federal Acquisition Regulations Council (“FAR Council”) and the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued its Final Rule and Guidance implementing the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order (the “Order”), commonly referred to as the “blacklisting” rule.  In total, the Final Rule, Guidance, and accompanying commentary totaled nearly