Attachment 8 BARC COVID Requirements.pdf

USDA COVID19 Requirements for Contractor/Visitors/Volunteers

Workplace Safety

TESTING FOR OFFICIAL VISITORS/CONTRACTORS/VOLUNTEERS

At this time, USDA will only provide testing for USDA employees. USDA will not provide testing for non-USDA employees, including contractors, volunteers, customers, or official visitors.

9. What should individuals do if they experience symptoms consistent with COVID-19?

If USDA employees, onsite contractors, or visitors have COVID-19-like symptoms, they should not enter the USDA workplace. Any individual with probable or confirmed COVID-19, regardless of their vaccination status, should isolate at home, consistent with CDC recommendations on isolation and workplace safety protocols. This includes people who have a positive viral test for COVID-19, regardless of whether they have symptoms, and people with symptoms of COVID-19, including people who are awaiting test results or have not been tested. People with symptoms should isolate even if they are not aware of having close contact with someone with COVID-19. Any individual who develops any symptoms consistent with COVID-19 during the workday must immediately wear a mask (regardless of the COVID-19 Community Level of the county in which they work), notify their supervisor, promptly leave the workplace and isolate consistent with CDC recommendations on isolation and workplace safety protocols.

Employees and onsite contractors who were in the USDA workplace within 3 days of either symptom onset or a positive COVID-19 test, must report it via this form.

53. Are contractors also subject to masking and physical distancing requirements?

Yes. Contractors must ensure that their employees and visitors comply with CDC guidance for masking and physical distancing at a covered contractor’s workplace.

57. Do the workplace safety protocols apply only at a Federal workplace?

No. The Guidance applies to all covered contractor employees and to all contractor or subcontractor workplace locations. While at a Federal workplace, covered contractor employees must also comply with any additional agency workplace safety requirements for that workplace.

62. Must contractors continue to comply with masking, social distancing, and COVID-19 testing requirements when working in Federal facilities or lands?

Yes. The court orders only apply to the application of vaccine requirements mandated pursuant to Executive Order 14042. There is no change to the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force’s guidance for COVID-19 workplace safety protocols for Federal agencies. Federal agency workplace

Attachment safety protocols for Federal buildings and Federally controlled facilities still apply in all locations. Contractor employees working onsite in those facilities must still follow those Federal agency workplace safety protocols. For USDA, contractor employees must follow the same protocols and attestation requirements applicable to visitors.

65. How will USDA inquire regarding the vaccination status of visitors to federal buildings?

Visitors to federal buildings in counties with a MEDIUM or HIGH COVID-19 Community Level should be asked to provide information about vaccination status. Visitors who are not fully vaccinated or who decline to provide information about their vaccination status must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test from no later than the previous 3 days prior to entry to a federal building in counties with a MEDIUM or HIGH COVID-19 Community Level.

Individuals entering a federal building, federally controlled indoor worksite, or federal land to obtain a public service or benefit do not need to complete the form or show documentation of a negative COVID-19 test result. However, they must comply with all relevant CDC guidance and safety protocols, including mask-wearing and physical distancing requirements.

66. How will USDA ask visitors about their vaccination status?

The Certification of Vaccination form may be emailed to visitors in advance of arrival or it should be provided when they enter a federal building or federally controlled indoor worksite in a county with a MEDIUM or HIGH COVID-19 Community Level. Visitors may email their vaccine self-certification form to their USDA point of contact in advance of their visit. For those visitors that do not email the information to their point of contact ahead of time, visitors should be directed to complete the Certification of Vaccination form and submit it to their USDA point of contact.

Upon arrival, visitors who are not fully vaccinated or decline to answer are required to show to their USDA point of contact a negative COVID-19 test result from within the previous three days. USDA will collect and maintain only the Certification of Vaccination forms.

67. How will USDA confirm that all visitors are complying with certification requirements?

It is the responsibility of the host agency (including in multi-tenant buildings) to ensure that a visitor in a county with a MEDIUM or HIGH COVID- 19 Community Level has completed the vaccine certification form and is following the appropriate COVID-19 safety protocols, including asking visitors who are not vaccinated to show a negative COVID-19 test result from within the previous three days. Agencies should do this in a way that makes most sense for them, including providing guidance for staff. Host agency personnel may keep a list of regular onsite visitors who have certified they are fully vaccinated. In co-located facilities, agencies are required to harmonize on how they are checking the information and ensuring compliance with the appropriate COVID-19 safety protocols. In the NCR, when the COVID-19 Community Level MEDIUM or HIGH, security officers will verbally ask screening questions to visitors and contractors without PIV cards or Site Badges at visitor entrances, but agencies maintain the responsibly for collecting all verification of vaccination forms and visually confirming test results (if applicable).

Implementation guidance has been circulated to the Pandemic Coordinators.

68. Is there standard text to share with visitors in advance to describe workplace safety policies?

The following text may be shared with visitors in advance of their visit:

We look forward to your visit to USDA. Based on guidance from the White House, visitors to our buildings who are not seeking a public benefit need to complete the Certification of Vaccination form and email it in advance to their USDA point of contact or be prepared to show it upon entry if the COVID-19 Community Level is MEDIUM or HIGH. If you are unable to complete the form in advance, a copy will be available at the building entrances and must be completed and submitted to your USDA point of contact upon entry. Visitors who are not fully vaccinated will also be required to show a negative COVID-19 test result from within the previous three days, which must be presented upon arrival to your host and/or the security officer and not emailed in advance, if the COVID-19 Community Level is MEDIUM or HIGH. Please be aware that current USDA policy is that all employees, contractors, and visitors must wear masks in all USDA buildings and government owned or leased vehicles, regardless of vaccination status, if the COVID-19 Community Level is HIGH. Mask wearing is voluntary if the COVID-19 Community Level is LOW or MEDIUM.

71. Does this form need to be filled out by all cleaning personnel, custodians, landlords, and maintenance staff at all Federal facilities?

If the COVID-19 Community Level is MEDIUM or HIGH, building staff should fill out the non-employee contractor form and maintain it on their person while in or on Federal buildings or lands. Additional guidance about this implementation has been shared with the Pandemic Coordinators.

72. What if a visitor declines to follow USDA’s safety protocols for entry?

Visitors who decline to submit a certification of vaccination form in counties where the COVID-19 Community Level is MEDIUM or HIGH, or otherwise fail to follow established safety protocols for entry are not permitted entry.

73. What is the difference between USDA employees, on-site contractors, visitors, and customers? How can I tell?

You should first determine whether an individual is performing work on-site or is merely a customer entering a Federal building or Federal land to obtain a public service or benefit. You may also check if the individual has a USDA employee PIV badge. Contractors and visitors (to the extent issued) should have different looking badges or stickers that they must wear indicating that they are non-Federal employees in a Federal facility.

USDA county office employees should be considered employees for this purpose and are likewise encouraged to submit proof of vaccination through the online USDA system.

74. Does the vaccination self-certification guidance apply to members of the public seeking a public benefit or service?

No. The requirements related to asking visitors about their vaccination status and providing proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test does not apply to members of the public entering a Federal building or Federal land to obtain a public service or benefit. If customers are not fully vaccinated, these visitors must comply with all relevant CDC guidance, including wearing a mask and physically distancing from other people.

USDA defines a public benefit or service as applying to all customers at service centers or field offices, recreation areas, food and nutrition direct service centers, and grain offices.

75. What should a USDA employee do if a member of the public seeking a public benefit or service refuses to wear a mask and maintain physical distancing?

If a customer refuses to comply with USDA’s safety protocols, USDA employees can considerately make customers aware of the masking requirement in counties where the COVID-19 Community Level is HIGH. Customers who will not honor USDA’s requirement should be asked, politely, to do so. If the customer refuses, that is the individual’s right, but they must be directed to conduct business off-site (over the phone or online) and to please depart the premises. USDA employees should remain respectful yet safe and call for assistance from local authorities if the situation cannot be resolved.

References:

USDA COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan – March 31, 2022 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) On USDA’s Response to COVID-19 Workplace Safety - Revised on April 6, 2022.

COVID-19 SCREENING TESTING GUIDANCE FOR USDA EMPLOYEES – April 28, 2022.