Category Archives: Federal Acquisitions
Subscribe to Federal Acquisitions RSS FeedEFFECTIVE TODAY: FAR Barring Certain Contractor Confidentiality Agreements
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 … Continue Reading
Effective January 1, 2017: New Federal Contractor Paycheck Transparency, Independent Contractor Notice, and Paid Sick Leave Obligations
On January 1, 2017, new federal contract paycheck transparency, independent contractor notification, and paid sick leave requirements go into effect. Below we summarize the key elements of these new regulatory requirements.… Continue Reading
BREAKING: FEDERAL JUDGE ENJOINS IMPLEMENTATION OF PART OF FAIR PAY AND SAFE WORKPLACES (“BLACKLISTING”) EXECUTIVE ORDER, REGULATIONS, AND GUIDANCE
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 … Continue Reading
Challenge To The Fair Pay And Safe Workplaces (“Blacklisting”) Rule To Be Heard On October 21, 2016
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 … Continue Reading
Rule Governing Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors Completes OMB Review Process
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 the subject can be found here … Continue Reading
Department of Labor Announces “Preassessment” Program For Government Contractors
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 be doing now to prepare … Continue Reading
Proskauer Hosts Webinar On New “Blacklisting” Regulations
BREAKING NEWS: FAR Council Issues Final Rule and DOL Issues Final Guidance on Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces (“Blacklisting”) Executive Order, Effective October 25, 2016
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 900 pages, responding to nearly … Continue Reading
BREAKING: FAR Council Publishes Final Rule On Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces (“Blacklisting”) Executive Order
Today, the Federal Acquisition Regulation Council (“FAR Council”) published the final rule regarding the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order (the “Order”), better known as the “blacklisting” rule. The Order imposes a host of new obligations on government contractors with more than $500,000 in government contracts, including an obligation to report various labor law … Continue Reading
Fair Pay And Safe Workplaces Regulations Sent To OMB For Approval
On May 4, 2016, the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) received proposed final regulations for the implementation of President Obama’s controversial Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order (the “Order”). The Order, often referred to as the “blacklisting regulation,” imposes additional disclosure and compliance obligations on federal government contractors with contracts valued at $500,000 … Continue Reading
House Armed Services Committee Adopts Amendment To 2017 National Defense Authorization Act Exempting Defense Contractors From Compliance With The Fair Pay And Safe Workplaces Executive Order
On April 28, 2016 the U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee adopted an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (the “Amendment”), which would exempt federal defense contractors from compliance with President Obama’s Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order (the “Order”). Since being issued on July 31, 2014, the Order has caused a … Continue Reading
BREAKING: Obama Administration Issues Executive Order Requiring Federal Contractors To Provide Employees Paid Sick Leave
On September 7, 2015, the President issued the Establishing Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors Executive Order (the “Order”) requiring federal contractors to provide up to 56 hours (7 days) of paid sick leave per year to their employees on new contracts entered into after January 1, 2017. The White House anticipates that the Order … Continue Reading
The American Bar Association Joins Growing Chorus Of Groups Raising Concerns About Fair Pay And Safe Workplaces Regulations
On August 26, 2015, the Section of Public Contract Law of the American Bar Association (“ABA”) submitted public comments to the General Services Administration (“GSA”) and the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) on their proposed regulations and guidance implementing the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order (the “Order”). In its eighteen-page letter, the ABA raises … Continue Reading
For The Second Time, DOL And FAR Council Extend Notice and Comment Period For Guidance And Regulations Implementing The Fair Pay And Safe Workplaces Executive Order
Today (August 5, 2015), the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) published an announcement in the Federal Register informing the public that both it and the FAR Council have extended the notice and comment period for the proposed guidance and regulations implementing the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order (the “Order”). The public now has … Continue Reading
Members of Congress Request Withdrawal Of Proposed Guidance And Regulations For Fair Pay And Safe Workplaces Executive Order
On July 15, 2015, eight members of Congress sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Labor and the Administrator for the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, requesting that the proposed guidance and regulations for the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order (the “Order”) be withdrawn. This letter comes just days after the Department … Continue Reading
OFCCP Seeks Final Approval Of Its Pay Transparency Regulations From OMB
OFCCP recently sent its proposed final regulations implementing Executive Order 13665 (the “Order”) to the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) for final approval. The Order, among other things, mandates that federal contractors disclose additional compensation information to employees and permit employees openly to discuss compensation without retribution. The Order directed the U.S. Department of … Continue Reading
DOL And FAR Council Extend Notice and Comment Period For Guidance And Regulations Implementing The Fair Pay And Safe Workplaces Executive Order
On July 14, 2015 the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) announced that both it and the FAR Council have extended the notice and comment period for the proposed guidance and regulations implementing the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order (the “Order”). The public now has through August 11, 2015 to comment on the proposed … Continue Reading
Senators Push For President Obama To Issue Executive Order Providing Federal Contractor Preference To “Model Employers”
On May 15, 2015, a group of Democratic Senators sent a letter to President Obama, urging him to provide incentives to federal contractors to become what they call “model employers.” According to the letter, model employers are contractors who provide “a living wage, offer fair healthcare and retirement benefits, grant paid leave for sickness and … Continue Reading
Confidentiality Agreements of Federal Contractor Employees – Changes To The Federal Acquisition Regulations Are Coming Soon
Confidentiality agreements for employees of federal contractors are increasingly coming under scrutiny by federal agencies. In late 2014, as part of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act (the “Act”), Congress prohibited the appropriation of federal funds to government contractors whose confidentiality policies restrict employees from reporting fraud, waste, or abuse to investigative agencies. The … Continue Reading
The New OFCCP Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity Protections Are Now In Effect
Yesterday, Executive Order (“EO”) 11246, as amended by EO 13762, officially went into effect, representing the first time in the federal sector that sexual orientation and gender identity have been expressly protected. On July 21, 2014, President Obama issued EO 13762, which amended EO 11246 to prohibit federal contractors from discriminating against employees on the … Continue Reading
