FAR Memo on President Biden’s EO on Vaccine Mandate for Federal Contractors and Subcontractors
On October 1, 2021, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council has issued a “Memorandum on Issuance of Agency Deviations to Implement Executive Order (EO) 14042”, the Biden Administration’s vaccine mandate for federal contractors and subcontractors. The memorandum highlights the goal of getting more people vaccinated and decrease the spread of COVID-19. The memo notes the Task Force strongly encourages agencies to apply the requirements of its guidance broadly by including the clause in contracts that have been or will be awarded prior to November 14 on solicitations issued before October 15th. Finally, the memo states agencies should “act expeditiously” to issue their deviations so that their contracting officers may begin to apply the clause on or before October 15th.