On September 9, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order (EO) to implement COVID safety protocols for Federal service contractors and subcontractors. While the EO did not outline specific rules, it did direct a Federal task force (the “Safer Federal Workforce Task Force,” created by Executive Order in January 2021) to issue COVID-19-related workplace safety guidance for prime contractors and subcontractors.

On September 24, 2021, the Task Force issued that Guidance, setting out specific workplace safety protocols and providing a few Questions and Answers to aid in interpretation of those protocols. Most notably, the Guidance mandates that a wide swath of the federal contracting and subcontracting communities receive COVID vaccinations.