By Government Contracts Editorial Staff
In light of the COVID-19 crisis, the Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs issued a memorandum to all contracting agencies granting a three-month exemption and waiver for all affirmative action obligations of supply and service and construction contracts, and other obligations under Executive Order 11246, section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, and section 4212 of the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act. For covered contracts entered into specifically to provide coronavirus relief, contracting agencies may use the equal opportunity clauses at FAR 52.222-26, FAR 52.222-35, and FAR 52.222-36 modified as provided in the memorandum. The exemption and waiver do not exempt covered contractors from the obligation to comply with other federal, state, and local civil rights laws. For the text of the March 17, 2020, memorandum, see https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OFCCP/National-Interest-Exemption-Memo-Coronavirus-Relief-Efforts.pdf.
