Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center

OMB issues guidance on impact of injunction on government contractor vaccine mandate

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The Office of Management and Budget has quickly issued guidance on the impact of the recent federal court ruling enjoining the Biden Administration’s federal contractor vaccine mandate.  The guidance, as reported on the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force website, states for existing contracts that include Executive Order 14042 implementing language:

The Government will take no action to enforce the clause implementing requirements of Executive Order 14042, absent further written notice from the agency, where the place of performance identified in the contract is in a U.S. state or outlying area subject to a court order prohibiting the application of requirements pursuant to the Executive Order . . .

Continue reading at:  JD Supra

Judge issues nationwide injunction halting enforcement of COVID-19 vaccine mandate

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As set forth in more detail in its Order, a Georgia federal district court judge today issued an injunction halting enforcement of Executive Order 14042, which requires that federal contractors and subcontractors with specific types of covered contracts ensure that their covered employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by January 18th, 2022.

As the Order states,

Accordingly,  the Court ORDERS that Defendants are ENJOINED, during the pendency of this action or until further order of this Court, from enforcing the vaccine mandate for federal contractors and subcontractors in all covered contracts in any state or territory of the United States of America.

In a brief 28-page decision, U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker found:

it necessary, in order to truly afford injunctive relief to the parties before it, to issue an injunction with nationwide applicability.

The case was initially filed by the states of Georgia, Alabama, Idaho, Kansas, South Carolina, Utah, and West Virginia.  However, Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. a nationwide trade organization “representing tens of thousands of contractors and subcontractors that regularly bid on and work on federal contracts for services” petitioned to intervene in the suit and joined the states in their request for a preliminary injunction.

Continue reading at:  JD Supra

Task Force announces details of federal contractor vaccine mandate

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coronavirusThe Safer Federal Workforce Task Force (Task Force) has issued its guidance (Guidance) regarding the COVID-19 safety protocols that federal contractors must implement under President Biden’s recent Executive Order 14042.  The Guidance requires covered contractors and subcontractors to adopt a “hard” vaccine mandate—that is, to ensure that covered employees are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, subject only to legally required medical and religious exemptions, by December 8, 2021.

The mandate extends broadly not only to employees working directly on federal contracts, but also to those such as human resources, billing, and legal personnel who perform work “in connection with” covered contracts, and to all other employees working in the same location as such employees.  Certain employees who work remotely are also covered.  Covered contractors must implement safety protocols related to masks and social distancing in their workplaces as well.

Continue reading at:  Hogan Lovells

MICC unit supports COVID-19 vaccine sites in Florida, Georgia

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Contracting professionals from the 904th Contracting Battalion and Mission and Installation Contracting Command on Fort Stewart continue to support ongoing efforts to vaccinate more than 1 mil­lion people against COVID-19 in Florida and Georgia.

Beginning in late Feb., the 904th CBN contracted life support services for more than 700 service mem­bers.  These joint missions are comprised of Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel who are manning five feder­al vaccination sites in Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Jacksonville, and Atlanta for up to 60 days.

Each contract provides lodging, meals, laundry, and transportation services supporting numerous doctors, nurses, administrative and support staff assigned to each of the vaccination sites.  Federal Emergency Management Agency and state government officials provide overall oversite of daily operations at each of the five vaccination sites.

Continue reading at:  Army.mil

CRS Report: Small businesses and COVID-19, relief and assistance resources

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CRS has updated its insight report regarding available resources for small businesses that are directly affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and seeking economic relief and assistance.

For an analysis of the small business provisions contained in various congressional legislation throughout the pandemic, see CRS Report R46284, COVID-19 Relief Assistance to Small Businesses: Issues and Policy Options.  For businesses interested in supporting COVID-19 mobilization efforts, see CRS Insight IN11419, COVID-19: Selected Federal Resources for Businesses Seeking to Assist with Research and Manufacturing Efforts.  For a list of CRS products related to COVID-19, see the CRS COVID-19 Resources page.

Section 3610 extended in the new stimulus bill

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The new COVID-19 relief package provides yet another extension of a provision known as Section 3610, which allows agencies to continue paying federal contractors if they can’t work for any reason due to the pandemic.

The provision was originally part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which Congress passed nearly a year ago.

The provision was due to expire at the end of this month, but the new COVID-19 relief package extends those protections through Sept. 30.

Federal News Network has a podcast that addresses the topic.

GTPAC launches COVID-19 resource page

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The Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) is closely monitoring the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on government contractors.  Our greatest concern is for the health, safety, and well-being of our clients and staff.  As a unit of Georgia Tech, we will continue to comply with Georgia Tech’s operational directives, and that of the University System of Georgia.

We are still operating and performing all counseling sessions by email, phone, or via online conferencing methods.  Because some of our counselors are now working from home, their phone contact information may have recently changed.  Please visit the team directory and each counselor’s profile on our website for the most up-to-date contact information:  https://gtpac.org/team-directory/

If you would like an appointment, please reach out to the specific procurement counselor you would like an appointment with by phone or email.

All seminars and classes are now being taught online as webinars.  You can register for any of our upcoming classes on our training events page here:

https://gtpac.ecenterdirect.com/events

Please also remember that we offer on-demand training, which can be accessed here:  https://www.gotostage.com/channel/gtpac

When we resume normal operations and allow in-person appointments again, we will provide notification.

We recently created a COVID-19 resource page for government contractors and vendors, which you can access here:  https://gtpac.org/gtpac-covid-19-resource-page/

The page contains information and guidance government agencies have shared with GTPAC related to COVID-19, including information regarding how to reach out to various state and federal agencies if you can support their response to the ongoing situation.  We will update this webpage regularly with the latest news and information that may be helpful to government contractors during this difficult time.

Please continue to visit the resource page for the latest in helpful links, webinars, and current information.

GDEcD seeks GA Manufacturers and Distributors that can help with critical health care supply needs related to COVID-19

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The Georgia Department of Economic Development is identifying Georgia Manufacturers and Distributors that can help with critical health care supply needs.

If you are aware of a business that can provide, produce, distribute, store – or quickly be repurposed to create – in-need medical and health care supplies, please direct them to fill out the following form, as soon as possible:

http://www.georgia.org/covid19response

Items they are seeking include:

  • Air Purifying Machines
  • Face Shields
  • Gloves (Various Sizes/Nitrile or latex-free)
  • Hair Covers
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Hospital Beds
  • N-95 Masks or Equivalent
  • Negative Pressure Machines
  • No-Touch Thermometers
  • Regular Thermometers if No-Touch Thermometers are not available
  • Safety Goggles
  • Sanitation Units
  • Sanitizing Spray
  • Sanitizing Wipes
  • Shoe Covers
  • Surgical Gowns
  • Surgical Masks
  • Tyvek Suits
  • Ventilators
  • …And any other item that may be useful for responding to the COVID-19 situation.

You can find more information on the Georgia Department of Economic Development COVID-19 website here:  https://www.georgia.org/covid19

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