2 PM 2021-05 DOC Memo to Acquisition Workforce on New Procedures-Revised-Final.pdf

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Office of the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Administration Washington, D.C. 20230

PROCUREMENT MEMORANDUM 2021-05 (REVISED)

ACTION

MEMORANDUM FOR: Senior Bureau Procurement Officials DOC Acquisition Workforce

FROM: Olivia J. Bradley

Acting Senior Procurement Executive and Director for Acquisition Management

SUBJECT: Senior Procurement Executive Message on New Procedures for

Contractors Working On-site at DOC Facilities in Response to the Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic

This memorandum provides additional guidance based on updated CDC Guidance and the July 29, 2021 guidance issued by the Administration’s Safer Workforce Task Force concerning COVID-19 Workplace Safety: Agency Model Safety Principles.

We are still in the midst of a global pandemic and therefore Government-wide guidance continues to evolve, including recently issued guidance regarding enhanced mask wearing and testing for federal employees, on-site contractors, and visitors. To this end, it is still highly encouraged that any contractor employee who can perform their work on a contract in support of the Department without negative impact to the mission, be afforded the flexibility to telework to the maximum extent practicable. While it is understood that many contractors must perform work at DOC operations and facilities, compliance with the new guidance and any future changes is required.

As soon as practicable, Contracting Officer’s Representatives (COR) should review their contracts to identify and validate those contracts requiring on-site contractor performance at DOC operations or facilities. CORs should provide the Certification of Vaccination form to all contractors whose contracts require on-site contractor performance at DOC operations or facilities. If you need further assistance, contact the cognizant contracting officer.

Beginning August 30, 2021, on-site contractors who are not fully vaccinated or who decline to provide their vaccination status to their employer will be required to obtain a negative COVID- 19 test from within the previous three (3) calendar days in order to enter DOC operations and facilities. (For example, a negative test on 8/19/21 would enable entry on 8/20/21, 8/21/21, and 8/22/21.) Each contractor will then need to attest to their COR, in writing, that all on-site contractor employees are following the guidance, meaning either they have been fully vaccinated, or they have had a negative COVID-19 test from within the previous three (3) calendar days. Further, contractors shall require their employees to keep https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/downloads/revised%20COVID19_Safe%20Federal%20Workplace_Agency%20Model%20Safety%20Principles_20210728.pdf https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html#vaccinated the completed Certification of Vaccination form found in Attachment A and proof of a negative COVID-19 test result, if applicable, with them while on federal premises and produce it upon request to verify their status. Contractors may use any COVID-19 viral test, such as a PCR or antigen test, that has been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration to detect current infection and includes a written report that documents the test result and can be provided to the individual contractor employee who was tested. In general, DOC will rely on the written attestation of the contractor.

Testing requirements only affect on-site contractor personnel who are unvaccinated or who decline to provide their vaccination status. As CORs, you generally do not need to, and should not, ask for, collect, or store information on the vaccination status of any individual contractor personnel. However, individual contractor personnel may be asked to show the form and proof of a negative COVID-19 test result from within the prior three (3) days, if applicable, upon entry to a Federal building or Federally controlled indoor worksite and to you, as CORs, to verify the status of the individual contractor employee.

On-site contractor personnel, like federal employees, are also required to follow all signage posted in DOC facilities or operational locations regarding masking and comply with all instructions by Federal Protective Service officers and facility managers. This may include symptom screening as well. Failure to do so will result in their removal from the facility.

While localized facility guidance takes precedence, you can monitor areas of high transmission via the CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker County View.

Following these procedures will help to ensure DOC mission readiness, protect all the on-site workforce, and bolster public health and safety.

We recognize the acquisition workforce plays a vital role in achieving the Department’s mission, and I thank you for your important role in managing DOC contracts.

Thank you for all you do. Stay safe.

Attachment A – Certification of Vaccination form https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-legal-regulatory-and-policy-framework/emergency-use-authorization https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-legal-regulatory-and-policy-framework/emergency-use-authorization https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view